Tripod incense burner

Tripod incense burner

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This tripod is a rare example of a dated ritual bronze from the Ming dynasty. Its inscription states that it was cast for the local Confucian temple in 1486 by order of Zhong Gang, the mayor of Zengcheng, a county near Canton (now Zengcheng district, Guangzhou, Guangdong province). The form and décor of this incense burner features a creative fusion of archaic and contemporary designs. Its form is loosely based on that of ancient bronze tripod cauldrons (ding). However, its form has been modified according to Ming dynasty conceptions, notably, the elongated handles and pouch-shaped body, which are also found on Ming ceramics. Its surface décor is similarly varied. The band of stylized dragons around the vessel belly derives from antique models while the turbulent waves around its neck come from later ceramics.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

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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.