Hand Warmer

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Painted enamel was originally limited to European-style objects, but later became a popular design element for traditional products in the Chinese domestic market, such as hand warmers. Made to hold glowing pieces of charcoal embedded in ash (and sometimes incense for a pleasant fragrance), this vessel would have been a source of comfort on a cold day.

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