Medallion with return from a spring outing
Unknown Artist
late 16th–early 17th century
Medium
Ivory
Dimensions
H. 1 1/4 in. (3.2 cm); Diam. 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm)
Classification
Ivories
Culture & Period
China · Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Friends of Asian Art Gifts, 1993
Accession Number
1993.176
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate ivory medallion, titled *Return from a Spring Outing captures a serene moment from late Ming dynasty China (1368–1644), likely created in the late 16th or early 17th century. Carved from a single piece of ivory, it measures just 1¼ inches high and 3¼ in diameter—small enough to serve as a pendant, seal, or personal ornament. The intricate scene depicts travelers returning through ornate gates amid blooming flowers, lush trees, and elegant horses, evoking the joys of a leisurely spring excursion in the countryside. Ivory carving reached exquisite heights during the Ming period, a...