Box with pommel scroll design

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

A close examination of this box indicates that three layers of red lacquer were interspersed among the predominant black. The yellow background brings additional color to the vessel, which was used to hold documents. The object illustrates the taste for vibrant aesthetic combinations that characterizes the late Ming period.

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