Saddle (Kura) with Stylized Flowers

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This light, carefully crafted saddle, dated 1491 on its reverse, might have seen use during the turbulent samurai warfare of the Muromachi period. Treasured by samurai families, saddles such as this one were both carefully preserved and also relacquered and redecorated in the Edo period to reflect contemporary tastes. The flower decoration on the pommel is inspired by Chinese brocaded silks.

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