Fragment

Art Historical Context

This delicate *Fragment* of nephrite, measuring a modest 2¼ inches high, 3⅛ inches wide, and ⅝ inch thick, captivates with its understated elegance. Carved from nephrite—a tough, fine-grained silicate mineral prized for its durability smooth polish—this small piece survives as part of a larger, unidentified object. Its presence in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian department, gifted by collector Heber R. Bishop 1902, hints at the era's passion for jade among global connoisseurs. Though the artist and date remain unknown, the fragment's German cultural attribution adds intrigue, suggestin...