Wrist rest with kingfisher and lotus

Wrist rest with kingfisher and lotus

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The pairing of the kingfisher bird and the lotus is symbolic of summer. The motif appears in paintings as well as in three-dimensional art. Rests such as this were used while writing or painting to support the wrist and ensure the proper placement of the brush.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Wrist rest with kingfisher and lotusWrist rest with kingfisher and lotusWrist rest with kingfisher and lotusWrist rest with kingfisher and lotusWrist rest with kingfisher and lotus

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.