Vase

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The shape of this vase is derived from Neolithic jade objects called cong, which have a cylindrical tube encased in a square prism that gently tapers from top to bottom. Simple masks with circular eyes and bar-shaped mouths often decorate the corners. Enigmatic in function and meaning, cong probably signified wealth and social status. These much later ceramic vases illustrate the enduring interest in earlier bronze and jade shapes.

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