Vase with elephant-headed handles

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This elegant vase represents an aesthetic revolution in its creative reinterpretation of an ancient bronze vessel. Although its décor follows archaic models, its long flaring neck and bulbous body are unmistakable features of thirteenth to the fifteenth century ceramics. Furthermore, its two elephant-head handles reflect the influence of Buddhism during the period. In Chinese Buddhism, the elephant was identified as the vehicle of Samantabhadra, the Buddhist deity associated with religious practice and mediation. For Chan (Zen in Japanese) practitioners during the Mongol Yuan period, when many literati fled into Buddhist monasteries, this décor would have been particularly appropriate for a flower vase used in a Chan setting.

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