Chest decorated with phoenixes, colored roundels (taegeuk), and flowers

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Owing to its durability and waterproofing qualities lacquer was frequently applied to furniture. The taegeuk, or colored roundels, and trigrams on this chest—symbols now associated with the South Korean flag—along with the chrysanthemum motif suggest the piece dates to the Korean Empire (1897–1910).

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