Engraving wheel

Creator Name

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Unknown

Cultural Context

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Chinese

Date

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20th century

About the work

Curationist LogoCurationist Object Description
The widespread use of furniture allowed jade carvers to work on table-type rotary machines driven by a foot treadle. Before this change in practice around 581 CE, artisans carved jade while sitting on the ground. This engraving wheel is part of a multi-piece set that included tools for carving, drilling, and polishing. The expanse in tools and ability to sit up while working allowed artisans to create more elaborate and detailed sculptures.

Metropolitan Museum of Art Object Description

Jade carving tool

Work details

"--" = no data available
Curationist Logo= Curationist added metadata(Learn more)

Title

Engraving wheel

Creator

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Unknown

Worktype

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Tool
Metalwork

Cultural Context

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Chinese
China

Material

Steel

Dimensions

L. 5 1/4 in. (13.3 cm); Diam. 7/8 in. (2.2 cm)

Technique

--

Language

--

Date

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20th century
20th century

Provenance

Gift of Joan Hartman-Goldsmith, 1981

Style Period

--

Rights

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Public Domain
Public Domain

Inscription

--

Location

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China

Subjects

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Drill; Carving

Topic

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Jade

Curationist Metadata Contributors

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Christina Stone; Jessica Gengler

All Works in Curationist’s archives can be reproduced and used freely. How to attribute this Work:

Unknown, Engraving wheel, 20th century. Metropolitan Museum of Art. A foot treadle powered this implement that was attached to the end of a spinning shaft. Public Domain.

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