Pillow in the shape of an infant boy

Pillow in the shape of an infant boy

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Jadeite was introduced into China from Myanmar, probably in the seventeenth century, and became a favored material at the eighteenth-century Qing court for its intense green color, high translucency, and vitreous luster. This remarkable sculpture of a crouching boy is modeled after the ceramic pillows of the same shape that were produced at the famed kilns of the Song period (960–1279). It not only illustrates the elegant taste of the Qing court but also denotes the increased access to the prized material. The boy, a common motif in Chinese art, expresses the wish for multiple children to carry on the family line.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Pillow in the shape of an infant boyPillow in the shape of an infant boyPillow in the shape of an infant boyPillow in the shape of an infant boyPillow in the shape of an infant boy

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.