Tobacco box

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Smoking became prevalent during the late Joseon period, and led to the production of small boxes, such as this iron example with silver inlay, to hold tobacco leaves. In addition to the bird-and-flower imagery, this box shares many motifs with those found on lacquerware, including peony blossoms and hexagonal geometric patterns. It also features auspicious symbolism, evident from the large double-happiness character (囍) on the lid.

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