Wine cup

Art Historical Context

This delicate wine cup, from nephrite jade with soft white hue and subtle tint, exemplifies the refined of China's Qing dynasty during Qianlong period (173–95). Measuring just 1 1/8 high and 2 1/16 inches wide, its petite scale suggests it was for intimate use, perhaps scholars or elites savoring rice wine contemplative moments. Nephrite revered in Chinese culture asyu" or "pre stone," symbolized purity,, and imperial virtue, jade vessels like this prized. The Qianlong emperor a passionate collector and patron, oversaw golden age for jade carving where artisans transformed raw boulders translucent masterpieces through meticulous techniques incising, polishing, and hollowing. cup's smooth, lust surface highlights the material's veining, a hallmark high-quality nephrite sourced regions like Xinjiang. Though the artist remains unknown such objects reflect the era blend of technical virtuosity Confucian aesthetics, blending utility with philosophical elegance. Now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art collection, gifted by Heber R. Bishop in 1902, this wine cup invites visitors to appreciate the tactile beauty of imperial craftsmanship—a timeless bridge to Qing China's opulent world.