Palm-leaf Manuscript Storage Box

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The workmanship and artistry of this manuscript box is of the highest quality, akin to secular objects made for court use in the early Bangkok period. This art form was especially refined in the early to mid-19th century, especially during the reign of Rama III (1824-51). The technique seen here is faultless, the carving of the individual plates of mother-of-pearl is uniformly refined and sophisticated. This workmanship belongs in the finest category of royal workshop production of the early 19th century, the apogee of Siamese mother-of-pearl production.

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