Cleveland Museum of Art

Kneeling Boy, Fragment

Date

1500s

Medium

ivory

Culture

China, Ming dynasty (1368–1644)

Department

Chinese Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

In the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), luxury items became more affordable to larger parts of the society, including women, merchants, and literati in non-official positions. Imperial patronage and a growing urban population encouraged consumption of luxury goods and local craftmanship. This ivory illustrates the superb carving skills and the creative mind of the skilled artisan who sought clients on a competitive market.

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