Cup with two feline dragons

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Found in all media, feline dragons with short snouts, horns, and long snakelike bodies first appeared in Chinese art during the Zhou dynasty (1046–256 B.C.). They reappeared during the twelfth to the fifteenth century and became prominent again during the Qing dynasty (1644–1911), an era characterized by a pervasive interest in the past.

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