Vase with rabbits

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

High-fired porcelain decorated with intense blue pigment under a clear glaze reached an unprecedented height of technical excellence and artistic sophistication during the Ming dynasty, when fine porcelain wares were mass produced and sold to many parts of the world. Their decoration attests to the active cultural exchanges facilitated by maritime trade. The animated rabbits are derived from Chinese sources, whereas the arabesques of scrolling vines and flowers are common motifs in Islamic art.

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