Vase with Dragon Handles

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

A glaze is formed when clay fired onto the surface of porcelain melts into a glasslike substance that fuses with the ceramic body, strengthening it. The lushness of the glaze covering this vase and the skillful manipulation of its color, created by controlling oxygen supply during firing, creates a sense of texture and depth similar to that found in porcelain with painted or incised decoration.

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