Textile fragment with boys and birds in pomegranates

Textile fragment with boys and birds in pomegranates

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This strip of silk features two clusters of pomegranates and leaves. The fruits, which are known for their many seeds, are filled with birds and flowers at the top, while those at the bottom hold boys and flowers. The inclusion of boys inside the pomegranates may refer to offspring: the Chinese character for “seed” is the same as that for “son.”

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Textile fragment with boys and birds in pomegranatesTextile fragment with boys and birds in pomegranatesTextile fragment with boys and birds in pomegranatesTextile fragment with boys and birds in pomegranatesTextile fragment with boys and birds in pomegranates

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.