Double bottle (one of a pair)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The double bottle form of this pair of flasks exemplifies a playful new design that appeared in the eighteenth century. Animals depicted on both sides deliver auspicious wishes: dragons and tigers are signs of vigorous power, while horses, monkeys, and a seal hung on a tree represent a visual pun for “bestowing an official title immediately.”

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