Gourd-shaped Incense Box

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The auspicious shape of a double gourd is well matched by the naturalistic decoration of a flowering gourd vine that curves over the top and sides. The design was first chiseled into the surface in fine cross-hatching. Then sheets of gold and silver in varying compositions were hammered into the etched area to create a flush surface reminiscent of gold-sprinkled lacquer.

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