Square vase with archaic-style motifs (fangzun)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This imposing vase exhibits a monumentality that belies its small size. Its square shape—most such vessels are round—further adds to its assertive presence, as does its crisply cast bold décor. The vase is a miniature-sized interpretation of an ancient wine container (fangzun). Its pattern features designs from different periods of antiquity. The combination of Shang, Zhou and Han designs on the same vessel creates a hybrid style that distinguishes this piece as a “new antique” rather than either a faithful copy or a fake, which reflects the innovative taste of antiquity in the thirteenth and the fourteenth century.

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