Table Valance with Theme of the "Hundred Antiques"

Table Valance with Theme of the "Hundred Antiques"

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

A rich array of vessels and objects in many media—such as bronze, ceramic, and carved rhinoceros horn—are depicted on this valance, which was likely meant for the front of a large table. The bronzes, especially the tall ceremonial wine vessel (gu), seen at the center of the middle group of objects on the lower panel, and the square four-legged ceremonial food vessel (fang ding) at the left, feature a naïve rendition of the mask decoration on archaic bronzes (which can be seen in the Galleries for the Arts of Ancient China downstairs). Ceramics are scattered throughout the valance: one at the lower left features a crackled glaze, a highly desirable effect among late Ming connoisseurs. The craft of carved rhinoceros horn is represented by the flaring cup seen at the lower right.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Table Valance with Theme of the "Hundred Antiques"Table Valance with Theme of the "Hundred Antiques"Table Valance with Theme of the "Hundred Antiques"Table Valance with Theme of the "Hundred Antiques"Table Valance with Theme of the "Hundred Antiques"

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.