Flower Vessel

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This small vase was originally made for use in a Buddhist temple. Flower vessels, along with candlestands and incense burners, are essential components of Buddhist ritual offerings. Here, centuries of use have resulted in the loss of most of the original gilding, revealing the softly shimmering bronze body.

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