Chicken-Headed Ewer

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The beginnings of the Chinese celadon tradition can be traced to the Yue kilns (a term that comes from the ancient name for a region in Zhejiang Province), which in the fourth century began to produce highfired stoneware covered with gray-green glazes. Early examples such as this were produced as burial goods. The meaning of the chicken head on the spout remains obscure.

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