Dish with dragon

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Several complex techniques were used to create this design of a dragon flying above rocks and waves. The dragon was first carved and then filled with gold and colored lacquers. The resulting decoration, which extended above the surface of the dish, was ground down until it was flush and then polished to an even finish.

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