Tea-bowl stand with phoenixes amid flowers

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Phoenixes are often associated with imperial women. The sharpness of the outlines and decoration on this tea-bowl stand is typical of works produced at court in the early fifteenth century. Lacquer stands of this type were used to hold ceramic bowls, following the tradition from the Song dynasty (960–1279).

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