Round Negoro Tray (Kōban)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The pleasing proportions and lovely surface of this sturdy yet gracefully rounded serving piece reflect a perfection of form and refined skills in lathework and lacquering that developed over many years of production and use. A play of color where the black under layer emerges through the smooth red lacquer surface is appreciated aesthetically and prized as a mark of natural wear over time. Such large round trays were used for serving cups of tea at communal meals in temples.

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