Ear-drop
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
Nephrite
Dimensions
L. 2 7/16 in. (6.2 cm); W. 1/2 in. (1.3 cm); D. 3/16 in. (0.5 cm)
Classification
Jade
Culture
New Zealand
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Heber R. Bishop, 1902
Accession Number
02.18.809
Art Historical Context
This delicate *Ear-drop*, crafted from nephrite jade in 19th-century New Zealand, exemplifies the revered tradition of pounamu carving among the Māori people. Measuring just 2 7/16 inches long, this slender ornament was likely worn suspended from the ear, a common adornment that signified status and spiritual connection. Nephrite, known locally as pounamu or "greenstone," is a hard, translucent stone sourced from New Zealand's South Island rivers, prized for its durability and lustrous green hues that evoke the land's natural beauty. In Māori culture, jade objects like this ear-drop held prof...