A circular disc of white nephrite jade, geometric design of oval depressions, central oval hole, cracked

A thin, circular disc of lightly polished white nephrite jade with a central oval hole around which are located eight round to oval depressions carved into the surface. These depressions lie just within the smaller of two concentric, circular lightly engraved lines. Just in from the edge, there is a circular engraved line just within which is a band of repeating designs formed of four shallow, oval depressions within small, rhomb-shaped, engraved boxes. Just inside this band, are two further concentric, circular engraved lines.
The reverse face is plain apart from having a slightly concave surface and a narrow band around the rim that has been worked to a lesser thickness.
There are several cracks to the disc which suggest that the work was abandoned due to the damage.

This nephrite jade disc was formerly in The India Museum in London and it was then transferred to the South Kensington Museum (later renamed The Victoria & Albert Museum) in 1879. 1880 Register Entry: [Room 8. Case .] '01,365. JADE. Piece of, circular, diaper ornament.' (No slip number given.)

Nephrite jade is a hard and durable material that requires patience and skill to work successfully. However, when it has been worked to a fine edge or thickness, it can be susceptible to mechanical or thermal shock. This thin disc of colourless nephrite jade appears to have been sufficiently damaged during the fashioning process in India, perhaps in the early 19th century, that the craftsman decided to abandon working on the piece. Such unfinished objects can often shed some light on the processes involved in their manufacture. The piece was originally acquired by the Indian Museum in London, and was transferred to the South Kensington Museum, later renamed the Victoria and Albert Museum, in 1879.

01365(IS)