Bowl

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Although refined white clay with a high percentage of the silicate mineral kaolin(the primary element in porcelain) had been known in China since the Bronze Age, its use did not become widespread until after the late sixth century, when porcelain was first used to make goods for daily life and to be placed in tombs.

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