Mandarin Hat

Mandarin Hat

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Officials' hat feathers could include one, two, or three peacock-feather eyes; this example has two. The emperor bestowed the feathers on officials for meritorious service, and the greater the number of eyes, the higher the honor. Near the end of the dynasty, however, such hat feathers were widely available in shops.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

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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.