Sceptre
Unknown Artist
Medium
Jadeite, pea-green with slight mixture of emerald-green and much flecked with black
Dimensions
H. 10 9/16 in. (26.8 cm); W. 3 3/4 in. (9.6 cm); L. 2 5/16 in. (5.9 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
02.18.523
Art Historical Context
This exquisite jadeite sceptre carved from pea-green stone subtly veined with emerald-green andcked with black, the masterful lapidary arts of China's Qing dynasty during the Qianlong period (173695). Measuring about 10½ inches in height, its graceful form and polished surfaces highlight the material's natural translucency and durability, prized qualities in imperial workshops. Though the artist remains unknown, such pieces were likely produced in the emperor's own jade factories, where craftsmen transformed raw boulders into symbols of refined elegance. In Qing imperial culture, jade held pr...