Netsuke of Flying Goose over Flowers

Netsuke of Flying Goose over Flowers

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

On the obverse of this manju-shaped netsuke, a goose of gold and copper alloy hovers over chrysanthemums and other autumn grasses of inlaid mother-of-pearl and tortoiseshell. On the reverse, similar materials are arranged to render a swallow as it gazes above at hanging wisteria. Seasonal motifs are a favored theme in Japanese art.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Netsuke of Flying Goose over FlowersNetsuke of Flying Goose over FlowersNetsuke of Flying Goose over FlowersNetsuke of Flying Goose over FlowersNetsuke of Flying Goose over Flowers

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.