Bottle

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The twisted shape of the vertical lobes that define this bottle, and the density of the decoration, suggest that it was made for the Japanese market. The inscription on the lower section of the vessel is a paean to diligence and to the importance of scholarship at court.

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