Fragment
Unknown Artist
Medium
Jadeite
Dimensions
H. 3 1/16 in. (7.8 cm); W. 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm); L. 13/16 in. (2.1 cm)
Classification
Jade
Culture
Myanmar (Burma)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Heber R. Bishop, 1902
Accession Number
02.18.5
Art Historical Context
This delicate jadeite fragment, hailing from Myanmar (Burma), exemplifies the reverence for jade in Southeast Asian cultures. Carved from jadeite—a rarer and more vivid form of jade than nephrite—this small piece measures just 3 1/16 inches high, 1 1/2 inches wide, and 13/16 inches long. Its compact size suggests it may be a remnant of a larger ornament, bead, or ritual object, polished to highlight the stone's natural translucency and subtle green hues, which were highly prized in Burmese artistry. In Myanmar, jadeite has long held profound cultural and spiritual significance, often associat...