Child Carrying an Infant Netsuke

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The fragility of porcelain and utilitarian function of the netsuke form an incongruous combination. Yet, ceramic netsuke such as this piece depicting a Chinese boy (karako) carrying an infant were extremely popular.

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