Cup; China, Qing dynasty, 18th-19th century

Cup; China, Qing dynasty, XVIII-XIX century
Pale celadon jade and wooden stand.
Measurements: 4,5 x 8,5 x 2,5 cm; 6,5 x 8,5 x 2,5 cm (with stand).
Pale celadon jade cup, The jade (nephrite) is used in China since the Neolithic, at first worked by abrasion and later by carving. Since ancient times it had a value equivalent to that given in Europe to gold, silver or precious stones. Since prehistoric times it has been the funerary material par excellence in China, and it also conferred status, since it was the material used by the powerful. It was therefore a material that was believed to protect in life, and hence it was used for the realization of amulets, ornaments or ritual knives. It is also associated with the five virtues: charity, because of its luster that shines but does not dazzle; righteousness, because of its transparency, which reveals the veins; wisdom, because of its purity and sound; courage, because it breaks but does not bend; and justice, because its sharp edges do not hurt.
Under the Qing, inherited art forms flourished and innovations occurred at many levels and of many kinds. High levels of literacy, a successful publishing industry, thriving cities, and a Confucian emphasis on cultivation nurtured a lively and creative set of cultural fields. During this period, the European tendency to imitate Chinese artistic traditions, known as chinoiserie, also gained great popularity in Europe due to increased trade with China and the broader current of Orientalism.