The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of May 13, 2024

Wrist Rest

Wrist Rest

1736–95
(1644–1911), Qianlong reign (1736–95)
jade
Overall: 16.2 cm (6 3/8 in.)
Gift of Mrs. John Lyon Collyer in memory of her mother, Mrs. G. M. G. Forman 1970.145
Location: not on view

Did You Know?

Wrist rests were used to steady the hand while creating graceful brush strokes.

Description

In China, access to political power was granted to those who passed the civil service examinations, a system that offered official service only at a high level of education. Chinese literati-officials, whose daily routine involved administrative work in an office, enjoyed precious objects on their writing desks that offered distraction and demonstrated good taste. By the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties, these utensils of the literati studio also became collectibles and were treasured as artworks.

The front of this jade wrist rest is carved with a design of a pine tree, clouds, and a crane of immortality holding a branch of lingzhi fungus in its mouth. The raised rectangular boss on the back of the wrist rest is inscribed.
  • ?–1970
    Mrs. John Lyon [Georgia Forman Elliott] Collyer [1898–1994], Akron, OH, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    1970–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Lee, Sherman E. “The Year in Review for 1970.” The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 58, no. 2 (February 1971): 22–71. Mentioned: p. 70, no. 148 www.jstor.org
  • China through the Magnifying Glass: Masterpieces in Miniature and Detail. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (December 11, 2022-February 26, 2023).
    Year in Review: 1970. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (February 10-March 7, 1971).
  • {{cite web|title=Wrist Rest|url=false|author=|year=1736–95|access-date=13 May 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1970.145