Lobed bowl stand with flowers and birds (one from a set)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Vessels such as this example were used mainly for upscale drinking parties or special occasions. Precious metal wares, such as gold and silver, often shared a design language with contemporaneous ceramic and lacquer wares.

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