Cleveland Museum of Art

Horse

Date

1600s

Medium

jade

Culture

China, Qing dynasty (1644-1911)

Department

Chinese Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

In China, access to political power was granted to those who passed the civil service examinations, a system that offered official service only at a high level of education. Chinese literati-officials whose daily routine was administrative work in an office, enjoyed precious objects on their writing desks that offered distraction and demonstrated good taste. By the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties, these utensils of the literati studio became also collectibles and were treasured as artworks. Desk objects included paper weights; seals and seal paste boxes; brush rests, wrist rests and brush holders; water droppers, ink cakes, miniature mountains, and albums, all ranging in material from jade, gilt bronze, lacquer, and wood to porcelain. The white jade surface of the horse has been brightly polished, but portions of the original stone's "skin" remain on the base and below the head.

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