Textile with Floral Pattern

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Central Asian silks with small dense patterns in gold were part of the international trade that flourished under the Mongols, and most known examples survive in European church treasuries. This piece was part of a liturgical vestment long associated with Pope Benedict XI (d. 1304). Textiles such as these were also depicted in Italian—particularly Sienese—paintings, for example Simone Martini's Annunciation of 1333.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

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.

Metropolitan Museum of Art