Vitrine Containing Twenty-Five Ornaments
Unknown Artist
18th–19th century
Medium
a-y: Jade and other materials: z: wood vitrine with strips of ivory fret
Dimensions
a. Bird pendant: H. 2 in. (5.1 cm); W. 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm) b. Standing man: H. 2 in. (5.1 cm) c. Standing man: H. 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm) d. Flower and leaf: H. 1 in. (2.5 cm); L. 1 1/8 in. (2.9 cm) e. Floral buncH. H. 1 1/8 in. (2.9 cm); Diam. 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm) f. Vase with coral spray: H. 1 7/8 in. (4.8 cm), (vase) g. Tree and bird: H. 3 5/8 in. (9.2 cm) h. 2 small animals: H. 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm); L. 2 1/4 in. (5.7 cm) i. Leaf with lotus of amethyst quartz: H. 1 1/4 in. (3.2 cm) j. Vase with coral spray:H. 4 3/4 in. (12.1 cm) overall k. ?: H. 1 in. (2.5 cm); L. 3 13/16 in. (9.7 cm) l. Plaque and grapes: H. 2 1/4 in. (5.7 cm); W. 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm) m. Gourd and leaves: H. 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm); W. 2 in. (5.1 cm) n. Bowl with leaves:H. 1 in. (2.5 cm); L. 2 3/4 in. (7 cm) o. Horse? and rider: H. 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm); W. 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm) p. Standing man: H. 2 5/8 in. (6.7 cm) q. Pendant: L. 3 1/2 in. (8.9 cm) r. Landscape plaque: H. 1 7/8 in. (4.8 cm); W. 2 3/8 in. (6 cm) s. 2 animals: H. 1 1/4 in. (3.2 cm); W. 2 in. (5.1 cm) t. Monkey on gourd: H. 2 in. (5.1 cm) u. Dog: H. 7/8 in. (2.2 cm); L. 2 in. (5.1 cm) v. Cat and kitten: H. 3/4 in. (1.9 cm); W. 2 1/4 in. (5.7 cm) w. 2 figures: H. 1 11/16 in. (4.3 cm); W. 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm) x. Seated figure:H. 1 1/4 in. (3.2 cm); W. 1 in. (2.5 cm) y. Bird: H. 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm); L. 2 3/8 in. (6 cm) z. Cabinet: H. 43 3/4 in. (111.1 cm); W. 22 in. (55.9 cm)
Classification
Jade
Culture & Period
China · Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Mary Stillman Harkness, 1950
Accession Number
50.145.85a–z
Art Historical Context
This exquisite vitrine, housing twenty-five intricately carved ornaments from China's Qing dynasty (16441911), showcases the pinnacle of jade artistry during the 18th–19th. Crafted by an unknown artist, the collection features delicate sculptures of birds, animals, human figures, floral motifs, landscapes—such as a bird pendant, standing men, a monkey on a gourd, and vases with coral sprays—all rendered in jade with accents of amethyst quartz, coral, and other materials. These small treasures, mostly under 3 inches tall, reflect the era's reverence for jade (yu), a stone symbolizing purity, im...