Oval bowl

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

As illustrated by this bowl, stonewares produced in the Changsha kilns of Hunan Province during the Tang dynasty sometimes reflect influences from the West. Its oval contours, which originated in Western Asian metalwork, traveled across Central Asia to China, where they were adopted by Tang-dynasty silversmiths. In turn, the Changsha potters have followed the Tang-silver shape as closely as their medium would allow. In particular, the rounded notched rim and raised ridges in the cavetto suggest lobation found in the metal prototypes.

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