Dish with mandarin ducks and lotuses

Dish with mandarin ducks and lotuses

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Thought to mate for life and die if separated, mandarin ducks are symbols of marital fidelity and often decorate wedding gifts. They are frequently depicted together with lotus flowers to symbolize a harmonious conjugal relationship.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Dish with mandarin ducks and lotusesDish with mandarin ducks and lotusesDish with mandarin ducks and lotusesDish with mandarin ducks and lotusesDish with mandarin ducks and lotuses

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.