Woman's birthday coat

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This tapestry-woven woman's coat was considered appropriate outerwear for birthday celebrations and other auspicious occasions. Its brilliant magenta ground is decorated with golden medallions bearing the character for longevity (shou) and the swastika (wan), which denoted ten thousand years. The dark bands at the neck, sleeve, and front opening of the coat have a matching design. Frequently, such bands will wear out before the rest of the coat, but they survive intact here.

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