Covered box with figures in a garden

Covered box with figures in a garden

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This circular box is a classic example of carved red lacquer from the early Ming imperial workshop. Intricate diaper patterns differentiate the sky, water, and terrace, and the meticulous carving and elegant design are hallmarks of the finest quality carved lacquers from this period. A garden scene framed by a foreground rockery is seen on the cover, where a scholar seated by an elegant hall looks out over a pond of blossoming lotus while his youthful attendant prepares tea. The scene recalls the famous Song-dynasty scholar and legendary lotus-lover Zhou Dunyi (1017–1073).

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Covered box with figures in a gardenCovered box with figures in a gardenCovered box with figures in a gardenCovered box with figures in a gardenCovered box with figures in a garden

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.