Vase with Peony Scroll

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The complicated technique used to create the striking decoration on this jar is often classified by the Italian term sgraffito, which means scratched. The vase was covered first with a white slip and then a black slip, which was then carved to create the design of the large peony scroll.

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