Chicken cup

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This type of small, bowl-shaped vessel from the imperial kiln of the mid-Ming dynasty has been cherished as the pinnacle of fine Chinese porcelain. The decoration was achieved through a complicated process. First, the design was drawn in cobalt blue on the unfired vessel. After glazing and high-temperature firing, the images were filled in with overglaze enamel pigments and then it was fired at a lower temperature to bring out the vibrant colors. Known as “chicken cups” for their imagery, these vessels convey a core Chinese value: nurturing the young is essential for the continuation of the family line.

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