Fish Gong
Unknown Artist
Medium
Nephrite, (a) gong: white of yellowish tone clouded with lighter tints; (b) mount: olive green with shades of brown
Dimensions
Gong: H. 12 1/4 in. (31.1 cm); W. 7 1/8 in. (18.1 cm); D. 1/2 in. (1.3 cm) Mount: W. 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm); L. 7 1/4 in. (18.4 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
Gift of Heber R. Bishop, 1902
Accession Number
02.18.698a, b
Tags
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art collection, the *Fish Gong* is a example of Qing dynasty jade craftsmanship from the Qianlong (1736–95). Carved from nephrite—a durable, highly prized form of jade with its white-to-yellowish tones clouded in lighter tints for the gong and olive-green shades for the mount—this ritual object measures about 12 inches high. The gong's fish shape, adorned with floral motifs, reflects the imperial workshops' mastery during Emperor Qianlong's reign, a golden age of artistic patronage and technical innovation in China. In Chinese culture, jade sy...