Caption

Ornament, Chinese art, Chinese culture, Ming 1368–1644, Ming style; jade bosses, lotuses, headgear, cranes iconography, ornaments. The ornament presents a complex three-dimensional form depicting a scene by a lotus pond: four cranes standing in natural poses among densely growing lotuses. The scene was based on an ornament created by thirteenth-century craftsmen during the Yuan era. Mongolian nobility wore wide-brimmed hats with jade bosses on the top. During the Ming, society moved away from the foreign fashion of the Yuan period, so wearing this type of headgear was abandoned, but jade ornaments remained in use and were applied to vessels as decorative elements due to their high material and craft value. Early 17th century, China; clothing, varia. Height 3.65 cm, width 3.2 cm, depth 2.5 cm., A small, pale carved object sits centered on a smooth surface against a dark gradient background, appearing off-white to creamy in color with subtle translucent areas; the carving is intricate and openwork with flowing, organic shapes resembling layered leaves and curved stems, casting a soft shadow to one side and reflecting faintly on the surface beneath it.

Credit line

Photo12/Liszt Collection

Reference

LZT26A27_448

License type

Rights managed

Available size

76.9Mb (273.6Kb) / 15.0in x 20.0in / 4490 x 5986 (300dpi)

Keywords

Ornament Chinese art Chinese culture Ming 1368–1644 Ming style jade bosses lotuses headgear cranes iconography ornaments ornament presents complex three-dimensional form depicting scene lotus pond four cranes standing natural poses densely growing was based ornament created thirteenth-century craftsmen Yuan era Mongolian nobility wore wide-brimmed hats top Ming society moved away foreign fashion Yuan period wearing type abandoned jade ornaments remained applied vessels decorative elements due high material craft value Early 17th century China clothing varia Height 3.65 cm width 3.2 cm depth 2.5 cm small pale carved object sits centered smooth surface dark gradient background appearing off-white creamy color subtle translucent areas carving intricate openwork flowing organic shapes resembling layered leaves curved stems casting soft shadow side reflecting faintly surface beneath .