Official necklace (chaozhu)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

During the Qing dynasty, civil and military officials above a certain rank wore beaded necklaces. A standard accessory in court dress, the neckwear featured beads made of semiprecious stones and strung with silk ribbons. The relative rarity of the materials and the colors of the ribbons signified an individual’s status.

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