Archaic-style vase with dragons

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This vessel takes the form of an ancient bronze ritual wine container (fanggu). The dragons, a contemporary addition, enliven the classical model with a new sensibility. The Qing-dynasty vessel would not have been used for wine, like its ancient inspiration, but was a decorative object designed to display the owner’s learned taste.

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