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Details / Information for Thumb Ring

Thumb Ring

1736–95

China, Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Qianlong reign

(1736–95)
Medium
jade
Measurements
Diameter: 2.9 cm (1 1/8 in.); Overall: 3 cm (1 3/16 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs. John Lyon Collyer in memory of her mother, Mrs. G. M. G. Forman 1970.142
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
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Description

Jade rings were worn by men on the thumb of the right hand to assist with holding and pulling the string of the archer’s bow. However, thumb rings were also fashionable accessories for civil officials in the late Qing dynasty.
A jade thumb ring features a thick, hollowed cylinder with one flattened side sloping into a wide D-shape. The polished stone is a muted cream color, mottled with warm brown veins and cloudy patches. A circular opening pierces the center, while the outer edges are softened and rounded. The semitranslucent material reveals natural textures within the stone's smooth surface as it catches the light.

Thumb Ring

1736–95

China, Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Qianlong reign (1736–95)

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