Pen Rest
Unknown Artist
Medium
Nephrite with faint greyish tint
Dimensions
H. 2 1/8 in. (5.4 cm); W. 3 5/16 in. (8.4 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
Museum Accession
Accession Number
X.155
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate **Pen Rest** from China's Qing dynasty (16441911), specifically thelong period (173695), exemplifies the era's masterful jade carving. Crafted from nephrite—a prized form of jade with its characteristic faint greyish tint—the small object measures just 2 1/8 inches high and 3 5/16 inches wide, to cradle a scholar's brush during pauses in writing or painting. Nephrite's toughness allowed artisans to achieve intricate details, making it ideal for such functional yet luxurious desk accessories favored by the literati elite. The surface is adorned with finely carved motifs of birds,...