Set of Eight Wine Cups
Unknown Artist
1796–1875
Medium
Jadeite
Dimensions
H. 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm); W. 2 1/16 in. (5.2 cm)
Classification
Jade
Culture & Period
China · Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Heber R. Bishop, 1902
Accession Number
02.18.715a–h
Art Historical Context
This exquisite set of eight wine cups, crafted from jadeite during the Qing dynasty (1644–1911), dates to between 1796 and 1875. Each small vessel measures just 1 1/2 inches high and 2 1/16 inches wide, perfectly suited for intimate sips of rice wine during elegant banquets or scholarly gatherings. Jadeite, a vivid green variety of jade rarer than nephrite in China, was highly prized for its translucency and durability, often reserved for imperial workshops and elite collectors. In Qing China, jade carving reached new heights of technical sophistication, with artisans employing intricate lath...