Bowl decorated with auspicious characters

Bowl decorated with auspicious characters

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This large porcelain bowl with a broad, flat rim prominently features the Chinese characters for good fortune (福; Korean: bok) and longevity (壽; Korean: su). Written words, often arranged in repeating and geometric patterns, communicated a direct and powerful message of auspicious aspirations.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Bowl decorated with auspicious charactersBowl decorated with auspicious charactersBowl decorated with auspicious charactersBowl decorated with auspicious charactersBowl decorated with auspicious characters

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.