Tray with Chinese characters, bats, and fruits

Tray with Chinese characters, bats, and fruits

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The dense, multilayered surface of this dish is typical of Qianlong-period carved lacquer. At center is the character for longevity (shou) surrounded by first a circle of bats and then a lobed cartouche containing the phrase “ten thousand longevities and eternal spring” (wan sui chang chun). The outer border of fruits and flowers also refers to long life. The dish was likely presented as a birthday present or used to proffer and display a gift.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Tray with Chinese characters, bats, and fruitsTray with Chinese characters, bats, and fruitsTray with Chinese characters, bats, and fruitsTray with Chinese characters, bats, and fruitsTray with Chinese characters, bats, and fruits

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.