Brush holder with tribute scene

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The lively figures carved on this brush pot represent a scene of tribute bearers, possibly from a country in Southeast Asia, traveling to China. The figure holding a scepter is leading the procession, which includes a peculiar two-wheeled cart laden with treasures, a lion, and an elephant with a precious plant.

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