Oil bottle decorated with peony leaves

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This bottle illustrates the care lavished on even the smallest objects produced during the Goryeo dynasty. Small bottles were intended for scented oils and cosmetics. The peony-leaf motif is created through a reverse-inlay technique: the area around the leaf design is carved away and inlaid with white slip. The leaves are further embellished with fine incised lines.

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