Snuff bottle in the shape of a gourd

Snuff bottle in the shape of a gourd

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

A popular decorative motif, the gourd is synonymous of progeny, or multiple children, because the image of numerous gourds growing on a single vine is viewed as a symbol of many children in one family line.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Snuff bottle in the shape of a gourdSnuff bottle in the shape of a gourdSnuff bottle in the shape of a gourdSnuff bottle in the shape of a gourdSnuff bottle in the shape of a gourd

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.