Inkstone and cover with mandarin ducks in a lotus pond

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The simple, functional form of this work is typical of Song literati inkstones. Its cover is finely carved with a pair of mandarin ducks swimming in a lotus pond. The low-relief birds and lotus are further animated by lightly engraved ripples and windswept clouds. Similar patterns found on contemporary ceramics as well as on metalwork in gold or silver attest to the extensive exchange of motifs across different media at this time.

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