Musical stone
Unknown Artist
Medium
Nephrite, olive-brown
Dimensions
H. 4 3/16 in. (10.7 cm); W. 8 13/16 in. (22.4 cm); D. 1/4 in. (0.7 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
02.18.646
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Musical Stone* from China's Qing dynasty, specifically the Qianlong period (6–95), exemplifies the imperial era's mastery of jade carving. Crafted from olive-brown nephrite—a durable yet finely workable form of jade highly prized in Chinese culture—this thin slab measures just 4 3/16 inches high, 13/16 inches, and a remarkable 1/4 inch thick. Its delicate dimensions highlight the artisan's skill in shaping nephrite into a functional yet decorative object, likely struck to produce resonant tones as a lithophone, an ancient musical instrument. Jade held profound cultural signif...