Section of a Valance

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The iridescence of this valance's peacock feather pattern was achieved with actual peacock feathers. The feathers were wrapped around a silk core and the resulting threads couched into place.

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