Belt buckle with walking tiger

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The artist of this buckle sought to maximize the ferocious aspect of the tiger by showing its fierce face frontally while displaying its lithe body, massive paws, and sharp claws in profile. The vivid distillations are a salient feature of the art created by the nomadic peoples who roamed the Eurasian steppes. Such images had a powerful impact on the art of late Zhou and Han China.

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