Bowl
Unknown Artist
Medium
Nephrite, dark seaweed green with mottlings of very light green
Dimensions
H. 2 13/16 in. (7.2 cm); W. 7 15/16 in. (20.2 cm)
Classification
Jade
Culture & Period
China · Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Heber R. Bishop, 1902
Accession Number
02.18.413
Art Historical Context
This elegant jade bowl, carved from nephrite in a striking dark seaweed green mottled with lighter green veins, exemplifies the masterful craftsmanship of China's Ming dynasty (1368–1644). Measuring just 2 13/16 inches high and 7 15/16 inches wide, its shallow, open form invites admiration of the stone's natural beauty, where subtle color variations mimic the patterns of flowing water or lush landscapes—hallmarks of prized jade. In Ming China, nephrite jade held profound cultural significance as a symbol of purity, immortality, and imperial virtue, often reserved for the elite. Artisans emplo...