Pair of dishes with peonies and lotuses

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Carved-lacquer dishes, such as these decorated using a laborious and expensive technique, were probably never meant for dining. Instead, they were displayed or used to offer guests items such as confections. The deep, dense carving of the lacquer shows an artistic combination of tree peonies and lotuses.

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