Vase with peony scroll and landscape panels

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The shape of this vase is common in porcelain but unusual in carved lacquer. Its form reflects the experimentation and exchange that characterized the decorative arts in China in the eighteenth century. Unlike most carved lacquer objects, which have a wood substructure, this heavy vessel probably has a support of metal, such as brass or copper.

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