The Collection
The American Wing Ancient Near Eastern Art Arms and Armor The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing Asian Art The Cloisters The Costume Institute Drawings and Prints Egyptian Art European Paintings European Sculpture and Decorative Arts Greek and Roman Art Islamic Art Robert Lehman Collection The Libraries Medieval Art Musical Instruments Photographs Antonio Ratti Textile Center Modern and Contemporary Art

Returned to lender The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.

Female Musician Playing a Flute or Panpipe (Sheng?)

Western Han dynasty (206 BCE–9 CE)

Not on view

This kneeling musician, together with the two other musicians and two dancers in this gallery, once formed part of a troupe of performers interred with a deceased prince to entertain him in the afterlife. That she raises both arms to her mouth suggests that she may have played a wind instrument. Her hands were missing at the time of excavation, but a panpipe and a type of reedpipe identified as a sheng were discovered alongside her, suggesting her role.

Female Musician Playing a Flute or Panpipe (Sheng?), Earthenware with pigment, China — Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

西汉陶吹奏女俑

Title: Female Musician Playing a Flute or Panpipe (Sheng?)

Period: Western Han dynasty (206 BCE–9 CE)

Culture: China

Medium: Earthenware with pigment

Dimensions: H. 13 9/16 in. (34.5 cm)

Classification: Tomb Pottery

Credit Line: Lent by Xuzhou City Museum

Accession Number: SL.1.2017.27.8a, b

The Met

Asian Art at The Met

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.