Dish in Shape of Japanese Court Woman

Dish in Shape of Japanese Court Woman

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The court women of the Heian period (794–1185), characterized by their long flowing hair and multilayered clothing with elaborate and brilliantly juxtaposed patterns, play an important role in Japanese visual arts. Many were writers and poets. Plates such as this can be understood to refer to these famous women as well as to an ideal type.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Dish in Shape of Japanese Court WomanDish in Shape of Japanese Court WomanDish in Shape of Japanese Court WomanDish in Shape of Japanese Court WomanDish in Shape of Japanese Court Woman

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.