Cup
Unknown Artist
Medium
Nephrite, white with faint greenish gray tint
Dimensions
H. 3 3/8 in. (8.5 cm); W. 5 in. (12.7 cm)
Classification
Jade
Culture & Period
China · Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Qianlong period (1736–95)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Heber R. Bishop, 1902
Accession Number
02.18.632
Art Historical Context
This elegant jade cup, crafted during the Qianlong period (1736–95) of China's Qing dynasty, exemplifies the imperial era's mastery of luxury craftsmanship. Measuring just 3⅜ inches high and 5 inches, its petite form suggests it was designed for ceremonial use, perhaps as a libation vessel in rituals or scholarly gatherings. The Qianlong emperor, a fervent patron of the arts, oversaw workshops that elevated jade carving to new heights, producing objects that blended utility with profound symbolism. Carved from nephrite—a prized form of jade with a white body and faint greenish-gray tint—the c...