Elephant carrying a vase

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This sculpture is typical of an innovative style of the eighteenth to early nineteenth century, when Chinese craftspeople created novel designs by combining traditional forms with decorative elements from other cultures. While the compact and broad shapes of the animals are derived from the native tradition, the sparkling inlays of semiprecious stones are unmistakably inspired by the jades of Mughal India.

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