Theatrical Robe for the Role of a Guard

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This costume, for the role of a guard, mimics armor. Animal heads decorate the geometric armorlike pattern at the shoulder and thigh. Unusual winged animals appear at the waist, powerful tigers at the hem. A similar costume, in white, is in the Qing court collection of theatrical costumes of the Palace Museum, Beijing.

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