Vase (1700s): Art, History and Details

Vase (1700s) is in the Cleveland Museum of Art collection.

The work and its context

The museum's open-access catalogue describes the work:

In the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties, luxury items became more affordable to larger parts of the society, including women, merchants, and literati in non-official positions. Imperial patronage and a growing urban population encouraged consumption of luxury goods and local craftmanship. This jade vase has free ring handles suspended from a pair of feline masks. The cross-section of vase is an eight-sided lozenge with curving sides. It illustrates the superb carving skills and the creative mind of its accomplished creator, who sought clients on a competitive market.

Object facts

• Title: Vase
• Date: 1700s
• Culture: China, Qing dynasty (1644-1911)
• Type: Jade
• Technique: jade
• Dimensions: Overall: 17.2 cm (6 3/4 in.)
• Collection: China - Qing Dynasty
• Department: Chinese Art
• Accession number: 1952.506

A detail from the museum

This jade vase's flaring lip, central band, and flaring foot are derived from archaic bronze zun.

Collection credit

Anonymous Gift

Further reading listed by the museum

• Lee, Sherman E. “Chinese Carved Jades.” The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 41, no. 4 (April 1954): 67–71.

View the collection record

See the museum's photographs and full catalogue entry. Catalogue text is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art's open-access data, with HTML formatting removed. This object and its supplied image are designated CC0.