Garment hook

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Belt hooks, which were used to secure the leather belts for warriors, appeared in China in the fifth century B.C. They gradually became status symbols and rank insignia for the privileged class in the following centuries. By the Qing dynasty, they had completely lost their practical function, turning into desktop ornaments for scholarly studios.

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