THE MET
Pale Green Jade Archer's Ring
Victorian Early / Crinoline · 1850s · Chinese
Production
handmade
Material
jade
Culture
Chinese
Influences
Chinese archer's thumb ring tradition
A translucent pale green jade ring with a distinctive rectangular profile and curved interior. The piece features the characteristic thick band and angular geometry of a Chinese archer's thumb ring, carved from a single piece of nephrite jade. The stone displays subtle variations in opacity and color saturation typical of natural jade. The ring's substantial width and squared edges reflect traditional Chinese lapidary techniques, while its smooth polished surface demonstrates skilled craftsmanship. This type of ring served both practical archery functions and ceremonial purposes, representing status and cultural identity within Chinese society.
Connected To
Influences·Chinese archer's thumb ring traditionTechnique·hand-carvingFunction·religious-ceremonial
LINEAGEsame era · cross-category→ directed
Lineage: “Chinese archer's thumb ring tradition”
These two archer's rings reveal how Victorian collectors fetishized Chinese material culture while completely missing its function. The turquoise ring with its dramatic black veining carries the weight of actual use—that smooth, worn interior speaks to arrows drawn and released—while the pale jade version looks suspiciously pristine, more likely carved as a decorative object for Western consumption.
Text84%
Image
Technique·hand-carvingFunction·religious-ceremonial
SHARED30 years · cross-culture · cross-category
Text49%
Technique·hand-carving
SHARED80 years · cross-culture · cross-category
Text29%
Image48%
VISUAL ECHO190 years
Text77%
Image84%
Entity0%
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