Cauldron with lid (Fu)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

These bronze cauldrons, known as fu in Chinese, are typical of the cooking vessels associated with the nomadic people of the steppes. Their history extends from the early first millennium B.C. to the first few centuries of our era, and they were distributed over much of the Eurasian continent—from the shores of the Black Sea to China's northern frontier. Examples with a pierced ring foot appear to date later than those with a solid ring foot, mostly from the third century B.C. or thereafter.

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