Vase

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Known as gu, this type of ritual vessel was used for pouring wine during the Shang dynasty (ca. 1600–1046 B.C.). The earliest objects were cast in bronze, while later artists adopted the shape for pieces in a variety of media. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, the gu beaker and other archaistic types were produced in cloisonné and painted enamels and were repurposed as display items or flower vases in environments where their allusions to earlier ritual functions were appreciated.

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