Snuff bottle with squirrels

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This exquisite work of carved lacquer has representations of a popular animal: the squirrel. This small rodent is prized not only for its preciousness but also for being a highly fertile animal. Depicted playing among vines with bunches of grapes, another symbol of multiple offspring, squirrels express wishes for a large family.

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