玉插屏|Table Screen
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
Nephrite, wood
Dimensions
H. 6 in. (15.2 cm); H. (with stand) 9 in. (22.9 cm); W. 5 in. (12.7 cm)
Classification
Jade
Culture
China
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Alfred W. Hoyt Collection, Bequest of Rosina H. Hoppin, 1965
Accession Number
65.86.197a, b
Art Historical Context
This exquisite **Table Screen (玉插屏)**, crafted in 18th-century China, exemplifies the refined artistry of the Qing dynasty. Made from nephrite jade—a tough, translucent green stone revered in Chinese culture for over 7,000 years—the screen is mounted on a wooden stand Standing about 9 inches tall with its base, it served as a elegant desk accessory for scholars and elites, shielding writing surfaces from drafts while adding a touch of natural beauty to scholarly studios or ancestral altars. Nephrite jade held profound symbolic value, embodying purity, immortality, and imperial virtue; its car...