One of a pair of boxes with elephants

One of a pair of boxes with elephants

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Marks on the inside and bottom of these boxes indicate that they were produced in the imperial workshop and titled “Peaceful Boxes of Treasure” (shengping baohe). Each cover is decorated with two attendants and a caparisoned elephant bearing a basin of treasures. The facial features of the attendants indicate that they are non-Chinese people. This scene envisions the traditional Chinese fantasy of foreign countries bringing treasures to pay tribute in times of peace. As an exotic and auspicious animal, the elephant is always featured in this visual pun.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

One of a pair of boxes with elephantsOne of a pair of boxes with elephantsOne of a pair of boxes with elephantsOne of a pair of boxes with elephantsOne of a pair of boxes with elephants

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.