These wheels are made of soft materials and are used for polishing works of jade. They are first smeared with a paste made of fine abrasives and water, and then mounted on a spinning shaft driven by foot treadles. This setup frees both of the craftsman’s hands to manipulate the jade.
Credit: Gift of Joan Hartman-Goldsmith, 1981
20th century
Gourd material
1.0cm
1981.296.27
Image and text © Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2019