Covered jar

Covered jar

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The dark blue glaze of this vessel is derived from cobalt, a mineral found in north China that began to be used in the coloring of glazes in the eighth century. By the ninth century cobalt glazes were also used in West Asian ceramics.

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.