Museum Updates
Ancient jade wine vessel meets Major Cold
Updated: Jan 20, 2026
China Bound
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The Major Cold (da han), the last solar term of the year, is here. As winter reaches its deepest chill, feast your eyes on this Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) jade zun (wine vessel) – smooth, lustrous, and serene, like snow-covered land under the soft winter sun.
Carved from greenish-white jade with a yellow tint, this cylindrical vessel features a single handle adorned with dragon and phoenix motifs, a deep interior, a flat base, and three beast-shaped feet. Imagine pouring hot wine into it on a freezing day – one small sip to chase away the cold. Collection: Wuhan Museum in Hubei province.
