Vase with auspicious animals

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Many animal patterns appear on decorative arts, including cloisonné enamel, from the sixteenth century onward. These creatures were often imbued with auspicious meanings. Here, cranes symbolize longevity, and peafowls represent fortune. Some of them even created visual puns by using homophones. One side of this vase features magpie, deer, and monkeys, which represent “giving great wealth and bestowing a noble title.”

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