Covered bowl
Unknown Artist
Medium
White jadeite
Dimensions
H. 3 1/8 in. (7.9 cm); Diam. 4 1/4 in. (10.8 cm)
Classification
Jade
Culture & Period
China · Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Qianlong period (1736–95)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Edmund C. Converse, 1921
Accession Number
21.175.49a, b
Art Historical Context
This exquisite covered bowl, crafted from pristine white jadeite during China's Qing dynasty Qianlong period (173695), exemplifies the era's mastery of luxury craftsmanship. Measuring just 3⅛ inches high and 4¼ inches in, its compact form belies the technical precision required to carve such a hard, translucent stone into a functional yet ornamental vessel. Jadeite, prized for its luminous quality and rarity, was reserved for elite objects, symbolizing purity, immortality, and imperial virtue in Chinese culture. The Qianlong emperor, a fervent patron of the arts, oversaw workshops that elevat...