Chair Strip with Cranes and Lantern

Chair Strip with Cranes and Lantern

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This chair strip was appropriate for multiple occasions. Textiles with lantern patterns were frequently used as seasonal decorations for celebrations of the annual Lantern Festival, which occurs on the night of the first full moon of the Lunar New Year. The generally auspicious crane motif is associated with both longevity and career success. It also serves as the symbol for the highest rank of civil officials.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Chair Strip with Cranes and LanternChair Strip with Cranes and LanternChair Strip with Cranes and LanternChair Strip with Cranes and LanternChair Strip with Cranes and Lantern

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.