Mold for a Bowl

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Molds such as this one were widely used in ceramic production in north China, particularly after the eleventh century, and are thought to have become common in an attempt to meet the growing demands for ceramic of various types at the time. As can be seen in the model bowl made using this mold, the clay was fitted over the mold in order to impress a design prior to covering the bowl with clay and firing it. Use of molds allowed for faster production than the hand-shaped and hand-carved decoration used earlier.

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