Jewelry
Unknown Artist
Medium
Jadeite, emerald green
Dimensions
Pendant: H. 3 3/4 in. (9.5 cm) Pair of earrings: H. 2 1/4 in. (5.7 cm) Bracelet: H. 3 in. (7.6 cm); W. 3 in. (7.6 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
02.18.733a–d
Art Historical Context
This exquisite set of jadeite jewelry, featuring a pendant, pair of earrings, and bracelet hails from China's Qing dynasty during the Qianlong period (6–95), a golden era of imperial patronage and artistic refinement. Crafted from rare emerald-green jadeite—a vivid hue symbolizing prosperity and purity in Chinese culture—these pieces exemplify the era's mastery of jade carving. The Qianlong emperor himself was a fervent collector of jade, commissioning works that blended technical precision with symbolic elegance, often evoking natural motifs like flowers or mythical creatures, though specific...