Carved Nephrite (Jade) Chinese Lanterns Carved Nephrite (Jade) Chinese Lanterns
Mineral Cabinet

Smithsonian Gem & Mineral Collection

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Carved Nephrite (Jade) Chinese Lanterns
 
Jade is the traditional name for two distinctly different types of materials - jadite and nephrite. This is nephrite. The pair of altar lanterns shown were carved from nephrite for the Chinese Emperor Ch'ien Lung in about 1750. Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.
Last modified 2026-08-09 MZ Smithsonian photos by Dane A. Penland
Copyright 1992 Smithsonian Institution 		Carved Nephrite (Jade) Chinese Lanterns