Dish with Lion among Chrysanthemums

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

In an attempt to meet demand from the court and elsewhere, in the twelfth century potters at the Ding kilns began to use molds rather than hand carving for the decoration of ceramics. Vessels created with molds, which produce both shape and design, have denser and more intricate patterns.

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