Water Buffalo and Herd boy

Object Details

• Label

  A large piece of jade with a pure color like this was an expensive luxury item in the Ming dynasty. The craftsman took great pains to give the water buffalo and herdsboy definition while not grinding away any extra valuable stone unnecessarily. The boy's struggle to stay mounted by grabbing onto the buffalo's horn adds humor to this probable desk ornament or paperweight. Fine details, such as the rein attached to a ring in the buffalo's nose and the wispy tail hairs, provide evidence of the jade worker's consummate skill.

• Collection

  Arthur M. Sackler Collection

• Exhibition History

  The Arts of China (November 18, 1990 to September 7, 2014)

  Monsters, Myths and Minerals (September 28, 1987 to November 26, 1995)

  Celadon, Jade: Finds, Specimen, Scientific Results (May to June 1963)

• Origin

  China

• Credit Line

  Gift of Arthur M. Sackler

• Type

  Sculpture

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1800s, 1600s

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Art, Chinese Art, Qing dynasty (1644 - 1911), Jade, Ming dynasty (1368 - 1644), Herding, Water buffalo

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Sculpture