Fan with Landscape

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Although at first glance this fan appears to have been painted, the landscape was actually delicately embroidered with fine silk thread. The inscriptions reiterate the imagery of mountains and pines, both symbols of longevity in Chinese culture. While the cylindrical date inscribed on the fan can be read as either 1651 or 1711, the latter is more likely. The ink inscription on the case dates it to 1737, which is when the case was made for the fan.

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