Box

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Cobalt, a mineral that produces a brilliant blue color, was first introduced to China from West Asia in the early eighth century. It was quickly used in ceramics both in single color glazes and as an addition to the three-color glazes of the Tang dynasty.

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