Jeweled Casket with Birds

Unknown

19th century · Nephrite; inlaid with gold, inset with diamonds, sapphires, rubies, pearl, and mother-of-pearl · Islamic Art

This small green and white jade casket is adorned with groups of jeweled parakeets, peacocks, and flowers outlined in inlaid gold. Jade working is an exceptionally time-consuming process that requires a great deal of skill due to the hard and brittle nature of the stone. Highly skilled artisans of the Mughal Empire carved works like this example from jade that they then inset with precious gems. These objects, decorated with floral motifs favored by the Mughal elite, were often exchanged as gifts.

Artist

Unknown

Date

19th century

Medium

Nephrite; inlaid with gold, inset with diamonds, sapphires, rubies, pearl, and mother-of-pearl

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

The Sylmaris Collection, Gift of George Coe Graves, 1930