Mythical realm

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The land of crystalline blue-green mountains, towering palaces, and auspicious cranes depicted here lies somewhere beyond the human realm. This tapestry would have been appropriate to hang for a celebratory occasion, such as a birthday, as the pleasant vision of the immortal realms would have added to the festive atmosphere. Sections of the details were painted rather than woven, a labor- and cost-saving method often employed on tapestries from this period.

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