Dish with two boys

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Scenes of boys at play, which originated in the Song period (960–1279), are common in Chinese decorative arts. They express the wish for offspring and the joy of having them. One of the two lively fellows at the center of this small plate is riding a hobbyhorse, a toy that may have originated in China; the other plays a drum. Sprigs of bamboo, plum, orchid, and chrysanthemum decorate the borders.

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