Statuette
Unknown Artist
15th century
Medium
Ivory
Dimensions
H. 11 11/16 in. (29.7 cm); W. 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm)
Classification
Ivories
Culture & Period
China · early Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Alfred W. Hoyt Collection, Bequest of Rosina H. Hoppin, 1965
Accession Number
65.86.121a, b
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite ivory statuette crafted by an unknown artist 15th-century China the early Ming dynasty (8–1644), as a testament to the's masterful craftsmanship. Measuring11 11/16 (29.7 cm in height and 3 1/4 inches (8.3 cm) wide, it likely depicts a male figure— a scholar, official, or sage—captured in serene poise. Ivory, sourced from elephant tusks, was a luxurious medium prized for its smooth, luminous quality, allowing carvers to achieve intricate details and a lifelike translucency that mimicked jade, a material revered in Chinese culture. The early Ming period marked a cultural renaissa...