Scepter (Gui) with Miscellaneous Poems by Tao Qian (365–427 CE)
Unknown Artist
1122 or later
Medium
translucent white jade
Dimensions
{"overall":{"width":0.028,"depth":0.003,"length":0.242}}
Classification
Jade
Department
Chinese Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of Mrs. John Lyon Collyer in memory of her mother, Mrs. G. M. G. Forman
Accession Number
1960.278
About this artwork
This piece derives its shape from the ancient jade scepter known as gui. On both sides of the jade surfaces are the inscribed texts "Miscellaneous Five-Character Poems by the Jin Poet Tao Qian" engraved in minuscule characters, with a reference indicating that the piece was made by the jade workshop of the Xiuneisi Office in 1122 of the Xuanhe reign. This Northern Song attribution is, nevertheless, questionable.