| Exhibition Dates: |
October 21, 2017–July 22, 2018
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An installation of some 100 exquisite carvings in Chinese and Mogul jade and other hardstones, all collected by Heber R. Bishop, will go on view at The Metropolitan Museum of Art beginning October 21. Featuring various types of objects—personal adornments, elegant vessels for everyday use, ornaments intended for an emperor’s desk, and more—A Passion for Jade: Heber Bishop and His Collection will illustrate the lapidary’s remarkable versatility and ingenious work.
The exhibition is made possible by the Joseph Hotung Fund.
An industrialist and entrepreneur, Mr. Bishop was an active patron of the arts and a Trustee of The Met during its formative years. In the late 19th century, he assembled a collection of more than a thousand pieces of jade and other hardstones from China and elsewhere, and in 1902 he bequeathed the collection to the Museum.
Many works on view are outstanding examples from the reign of the Qianlong emperor (1736–1796) of the Qing dynasty (1644–1911) that represent a peak in the history of this sophisticated art in China. Also on display are highly accomplished works by Mogul Indian jade carvers that provided exotic inspirations to their Chinese counterparts. The exhibition also includes a set of lapidary tools and illustrations that introduce traditional jade working of late imperial China.
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October 2017
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