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>> Chinese gemstone carvings are famous around the world.
But when and how was this exquisite art tradition
developed? From June 2016 to August 2017,
the Metropolitan Museum had an exhibition called
“Colors of The Universe: Chinese Hardstone Carving
in the Qing Dynasty.” It showcased around 80 exquisite
carvings drawn from the Met’s own collection.
Hardstone carving is one of the oldest arts in China,
dating back to the 5th Century BC.
>> Hardstones were not carved on a very large scale until
probably the Qing Dynasty.
China itself does not have much deposit of hardstones.
Most of the hardstones that you see in this show were imported
from elsewhere, largely from Europe or the other parts of
Asia, especially India.
>> The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty in China,
lasting from 1644 to 1911.
During the 17th and 18th centuries,
successful military campaigns expanded the Chinese
territories greatly.
Today’s map of China fits right into the Qing dynasty’s map.
>> In the Qing Dynasty it’s become relatively political
stability and they opened up of the northwest and southwest
usually referred to as the Silk Road.
The hardstones were imported into China in large quantities.
The Qing Dynasty was also a time when imperial families
patronized hardstone carving.
The imperial patronage was a very important factor that
brought about this very large creative age of
hardstone carving.
>> Hardstones are semi-precious stones like jade,
agate, turquoise, quartz, et cetera,
usually on the mohs scale they’re between six to seven.
>> That means they’re much harder than steel.
You cannot really carve them.
They can only worked by abrasive.
Abrasives are just hard sand.
In the Qing Dynasty before the power tools that we have today
there was no electricity so they had a treadle – it’s like a
sewing machine.
When you step on it the treadle would turn the belt and the belt
would turn the little disc and that would spin.
That’s how each of these pieces is made.
>> Many carvings were used as decorations in palaces or as
gifts given by emperors to their officials or foreign visitors.
Natural fruit and veggies carry symbolic meanings.
Pomegranate, with its many seeds,
symbolizes that there are many generations to come.
>> Here you see the pomegranate.
Because it has so many seeds in it,
it means there are so many next generations.
>> This is not much different than Western culture, where in
medieval times the pomegranate symbolized fertility.
This medieval Dutch tapestry from the 16th Century featured
a unicorn happily trapped under a pomegranate tree.
>> We can see this double gourd which is carved of red carnelian
which also shows the Chinese wish what is auspicious thinking
about having many sons.
Each little small baby gourd grows on a single vein is the
same idea about many sons from the same family line.
And here what you see here are three carvings of buddha’s hand.
Buddha’s hand is actually a fruit,
like orange, but it’s not edible.
It can be used as Chinese medicine.
>> Portable little treasures are easy to carry around and show
off among friends. The Qing dynasty was ruled by a minority
group called the Manchus from Manchuria,
northeast of China.
The Manchu ancestors were good hunters.
The thumb ring was originally used by archers to protect their
thumbs but later became a type of jewelry for men. Snuff
bottles were used to contain powdered tobacco.
Snuffing tobacco and other powders through the nose can
feel refreshing and open up congested sinuses.
It was very popular during 18th Century.
>> My favorite piece is a very little one made of white agate.
It looks like an animal turning its head and this is actually
the natural part of this stone.
>> Decorating carved pieces with other materials is evidence of
foreign influences.
>> For example what you see here is a horse carrying books.
And here an elephant carrying a vase on top.
It also shows the influence of Indian art because the way of
decorating the surface of jade with other stones is a technique
employed by Indian jade carvers.
>> Many precious materials are not pure.
They contained blemishes of color or other materials.
Chinese artists used clever design to turn natural color
and material changes into the highlights of a carved piece.
>> You can see that this little carving it shows three candied
jujube dates with peanuts.
Part of it is translucent.
Part of it is opaque.
The opaque part has a very rough surface and that’s the opaque
part of the stone.
So here you can see the very clever design of the artist.
What you see here is a brush holder or flower holder which is
made of chalcedony.
It’s a very delicate scene of trees and bamboos move in the
wind against a translucent background.
>> Today this ancient carving art is not lost in China.
With modern power tools and ingenious designs many
masterpieces are created for the public to enjoy.
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