ticketsMember | Make a donation

Boy with water buffalo

18th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 222
Auspicious symbols and visual puns expressing good wishes are recurring themes in Chinese decorative art. A delightful example is this white nephrite sculpture that depicts a small boy gently prodding his companion, a large water buffalo, with a stalk of rice. The ears of rice symbolize a good harvest and rhyme with the Chinese word for “year” (sui), thus implying the wish for “a good harvest year after year” (sui sui nian feng).

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • 清　玉雕牧童水牛
  • Title: Boy with water buffalo
  • Period: Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
  • Date: 18th century
  • Culture: China
  • Medium: Jade (nephrite)
  • Dimensions: H. 5 3/16 in. (13.2 cm); W. 4 3/16 in. (10.6 cm); L. 7 5/16 in. (18.5 cm)
  • Classification: Jade
  • Credit Line: Gift of Heber R. Bishop, 1902
  • Object Number: 02.18.438
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Buddhist monk Bodhidharma (Chinese: Damo), Rhinoceros horn, China
Buddhist monk Bodhidharma (Chinese: Damo)
China
17th century
Basin, Jade (nephrite), China
Basin
China
dated 1774
Seated Avalokiteshvara, the Buddha of Infinite Compassion, Gilt copper alloy, Tibet or Mongolia
Seated Avalokiteshvara, the Buddha of Infinite Compassion
Tibet or Mongolia
17th century
Lion and cubs, Jade (nephrite), China
Lion and cubs
China
18th century
Lion and cub, Jade (nephrite), China
Lion and cub
China
18th century

Related Content

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.