Seal with Knob in the Shape of a Turtle

Seal with Knob in the Shape of a Turtle

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

So-called “seal script,” seen here, is an archaic writing style that was standardized during the Qin (221–206 B.C.) and Han dynasties (206 B.C.–A.D. 220). It is characterized by straight lines of uniform width and angular turns suited to a square format. The inscription reads: “Seal of Tiannan General”

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Seal with Knob in the Shape of a TurtleSeal with Knob in the Shape of a TurtleSeal with Knob in the Shape of a TurtleSeal with Knob in the Shape of a TurtleSeal with Knob in the Shape of a Turtle

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.