Chisel
Unknown Artist
Medium
Nephrite
Dimensions
H. 2 1/16 in. (5.2 cm); W. 7/8 in. (2.3 cm); D. 1/2 in. (1.2 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
02.18.234
Art Historical Context
This delicate nephrite chisel, measuring just over 2 inches in height, exemplifies the masterful craftsmanship of Indigenous peoples from British Columbia, Canada. Carved from nephrite—a tough, resilient form of jade prized for its durability and lustrous green hue—this tool hails from the Northwest Coast cultures, where such implements were essential for woodworking tasks like shaping canoes, totem poles, ceremonial masks. Its compact size (2 1/16 x 7/8 x 1/2 inches) belies its functional power, honed to a precise edge through patient stone-working techniques. Though the artist and exact dat...