Kettle and stand

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This kettle set illustrates the artistic exchange between China and Europe during the eighteenth century. Its form is a typical European design commonly found in silver ware; however, this example was painted with traditional Chinese flower sprays in polychrome enamels over a copper alloy body. Produced in Canton (now Guangzhou), kettle sets like this one were exported to satisfy European tastes for Chinese wares.

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