Rectangular box with double dragons

Rectangular box with double dragons

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Boxes of this type were also produced in porcelain and were principally used to present important documents or gifts. The four claws on the dragons’ feet suggest that this example was made for a member of the nobility; five-clawed dragons symbolized the emperor.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

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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.