Bowl imitating carved lacquer

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The decoration depicting bats flying over waves on this porcelain bowl was molded to imitate carved lacquer, and it exhibits the same depth and richness as other lacquers from the eighteenth century. The closest parallels to the bowl’s shape can be found in small wooden dishes with metal rims from Tibet and Mongolia, which were sometimes placed on altars to hold flowers or other offerings. It is possible that this dish was also intended to serve a ceremonial function, or as a gift for a foreign dignitary.

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