Tripod censer

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The intense marbleized orange color of this incense burner successfully imitates realgar, an arsenic sulfide mineral used in Chinese traditional medicine. This mineral has long been understood as an antidote to various venoms and as a substance with the ability to ward off evil. By evoking realgar, this vessel would have been thought to be imbued with additional power, making it a highly appreciated item on a scholar’s desk.

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