Woman’s robe with butterflies

Woman’s robe with butterflies

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

On this robe, scores of delightful butterflies flutter among longevity medallions. Since the word for “butterfly” in Chinese (die) is a homonym for “octogenarian,” the butterfly is a symbol of longevity. It is also usually an auspicious image associated with joy and weddings, and this robe might have been worn for such an occasion.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Woman’s robe with butterfliesWoman’s robe with butterfliesWoman’s robe with butterfliesWoman’s robe with butterfliesWoman’s robe with butterflies

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.