Model of a bell (Niu Zhong)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

During the Eastern Zhou period, graduated sets of bronze bells became an important adjunct to courtly ceremonies as well as a mark of elite status. This pottery imitation was undoubtedly part of a set intended for burial to provide the tomb occupant with music in the afterlife.

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