Jar with floral roundels and inscriptions

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Resembling a moon jar in shape and production method, this vessel is similarly formed by fusing two hemispheres. While its size and asymmetry exude the same unaffected charm that has made moon jars national icons, it is distinguished by its surface decoration. Cobalt-blue roundels with alternating floral and calligraphic motifs appear slightly above the central seam. The characters convey auspicious wishes for longevity (壽, su) and blessings (福, bok). The cobalt-blue reflects the popularity of blue-and-white porcelain in the nineteenth century. Purportedly collected by the Japanese potter Shimaoka Tatsuzo (1919–2007), jars like this played a part in the development of Japanese mingei aesthetics and philosophy, which celebrated everyday objects made by ordinary people.

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