Cleveland Museum of Art

Thumb Ring

Date

1800s–1900s

Medium

green and white jade

Culture

China, Qing dynasty (1644-1911) or Republican period (1912-49)

Department

Chinese Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Jade rings were worn by men on the thumb of the right hand to assist with holding and pulling the string of the archer’s bow. However, thumb rings were also fashionable accessories for civil officials in the late Qing dynasty.

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