Other Jades in National Palace Museum, part2

Welcome to the National Palace Museum's collection of Other Jades! Here you can explore some of the most exquisite pieces of jade from China's imperial past. We have a variety of different jades on display here, including a Jade Divine Beast, Jade Horn-shaped Cup, Jade Duck, Jade Flower-holder in the Shape of Fish-Creature, Jade Pi-Hsieh, Auspicious Beast, Jade Brush Wash in the Shape of Lotus Leaf, Jadeite Cabbage in a Cloisonne Flowerpot, Jasper Plate with Gold Tracery and Jade Staff Finial in the Shape of a Pigeon. These are all beautiful pieces of art that tell us about the craftsmanship and culture of this period. Come take a look at these incredible artifacts today!

1. Jade Divine Beast

This work depicts a winged divine beast carved in the round. The beast has a tiger head, with mouth open and teeth bared, and a goatee on the chin.

2. Jade Horn-shaped Cup

This vessel is made of greenish-white jade. It is shaped like a horn cup and has a coiling dragon carved into its surface. The dragon is strong and forceful, revealing the unique vigor of Han dynasty craftsmanship.

3. Jade Duck

This jade duck was made using a yellow nephrite. Its head, belly, and feet are dark brown. The jade duck has simple sculpting techniques, but its physical features were accurately portrayed to look cute and lively.

4. Jade flower-holder in the Shape of Fish-Creature

This work of art is designed to look like a fish jumping up out of the waves. The head of the fish is especially noteworthy, as it has bulging eyes, long whiskers, and a prominent nose. The horns on the head indicate that the fish is in the process of transforming into a dragon.

5. Jade Pi-Hsieh, auspicious beast

The pi-hsieh is a mythological creature that was thought to have magical powers that could protect against evil forces. In the Han dynasty, pi-hsieh were commonly represented as winged, four-legged beasts, a form that was likely inspired by similar creatures from Western Asia.

6. Jade Brush Wash in the Shape of Lotus Leaf

This jade cup has a brownish yellow color with occasional grey-white mottling and a russet red color along the lines of an inscription. The shape of the cup is like a dried lotus leaf, with crinkled edges and a triangular shape with veins on the surface.

7. Jadeite Cabbage, in a cloisonne flowerpot

This piece of jadeite is carved to look like a piece of bokchoy cabbage. It is white with green leaves, and there are two insects on the leaves. These insects are traditionally seen as metaphors for having numerous children.

8. Jasper Plate with Gold Tracery

Hindustan jade is a type of jade from Northern India that is known for its beautiful craftsmanship. This plate has a gold filament and red glass inlay around the edge, which is a typical decoration for pieces from the Mughal Empire of Northern India. The Qianlong Emperor (r. 1736

9. Jade Staff Finial in the Shape of a Pigeon

The first thing that the person did when they got home from work was take a shower. This helped them to relax and feel refreshed before starting their evening.