Vase with romantic scenes

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The figures on this vase were inspired by illustrations of historical characters in woodblock-printed plays and novels. Such publications became popular in the seventeenth century and influenced porcelain design and other decorative arts.

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