Textile with floral medallion

Textile with floral medallion

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The “treasure floral medallion” on this textile is one of the most popular designs of the Tang dynasty. The design, which consists of a composite blossom at center surrounded by a quatrefoil pattern on the four sides, is used not only in textiles but also in metalwork and ceramics. Its structured rendering reflects West and Central Asian artistic traditions introduced to China via the fabled Silk Road.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

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The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.