Case (Inrō) with Design of Pine and Cherry Tree (obverse); Rooster and Hen on a Drum (reverse)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

After the seventeenth century, the combination of pearl shell and the "sprinkled gold" ( maki-e) technique is found in lacquers produced in both Japan and the Ryūkyū Islands. Both centers also produced works incorporating extremely thin pieces of mother-of-pearl, as here in the blue trunk of the pine tree and the white trunk of the entwined cherry. The dense, brocade-like patterning on the edges and ends, on the other hand, is more often attributable to the Ryūkyū Islands. When combined in one image, the tree peony and the hen at the base of the entwined trees, as well as the rooster and hen on the other side, are understood as symbols of honor and wealth.

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