Bracelet

Art Historical Context

This elegant jade bracelet, crafted in China during the 20th, exemplifies the timeless allure of one of the country's most revered materials. Carved from a single piece of jade, it measures 2 13/16 inches in diameter and 12 inch deep, forming a classic bangle design perfect for slipping over the wrist. Its smooth, polished surface highlights the stone's natural translucency subtle green hues, inviting touch and admiration in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art collection. Jade, known as *yu* in Chinese, holds profound cultural significance, symbolizing purity, virtue, and immortality. For over 7,000 years, it has been prized for jewelry and ritual objects, with 20th-century pieces often reflecting both traditional craftsmanship and modern sensibilities amid China's dynamic Republican era. The unknown artisan's skill in shaping the hard stone without visible flaws underscores jade's technical challenges—requiring patience, precision, and specialized tools to achieve its luminous finish. A generous bequest from the Alfred W. Hoyt Collection via Rosina H. Hoppin in 1965 brought this treasure to the Met, where it connects visitors to China's enduring jade legacy. Slip it on in your imagination and feel the weight of history!