Weapon
Unknown Artist
Medium
Nephrite, spinach-green
Dimensions
H. 10 7/8 in. (27.6 cm); W. 1 7/16 in. (3.7 cm); D. 1 in. (2.5 cm)
Classification
Jade
Culture
Canada (British Columbia)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Heber R. Bishop, 1902
Accession Number
02.18.295
Art Historical Context
This striking jade weapon, carved from lustrous spinach-green nephrite, hails from British Columbia, Canada, and exemplifies the masterful craftsmanship of Indigenous Northwest Coast cultures. Measuring about 11 inches long and elegantly slender, its form suggests a dagger or ceremonial blade, honed from one of the toughest materials known—nephrite jade, sourced from local deposits in the region. The stone's vibrant green hue, evoking fresh spring foliage, highlights the artist's skill in shaping such a resilient medium without metal tools, likely using abrasion techniques passed down through ...