Hexagonal flower vase with magic fungus handles

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This elegant vase represents an aesthetic revolution in its creative reinterpretation of an ancient bronze vessel. Its intricate décor, arranged in horizontal registers, follows archaic models, but also incorporates contemporary motifs, such as the geometric diaper pattern with swastikas and the turbulent waves. Its two handles are intricately cast in the form of magic fungus, a symbol of longevity. The three-dimensional form of the handles recalls similar images of magic fungus on contemporary jades. Its long flaring neck and pear-shaped body are features of 13th to 14th century ceramics. However, its hexagonal form, readily created in cast bronze, also came to be imitated by contemporary ceramics.

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