Moon-Shaped Bottle

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

In the eighteenth century, the kilns at Jingdezhen began using another material for the production of porcelains. Known as huashi, or “slippery stone,” this expensive material, often called “soft paste,” was used to make thin vessels that were frequently decorated with incised or raised designs. It remains unclear why this new material was introduced. It is worth noting, however, that it is easily carved and provides a parallel to the interest in the manipulation of surfaces found in other media, such as ivory and bamboo, at the time.

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