On loan to The Met The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.
Archaistic jar-form vase
This type of flower vase was among the most popular Chinese items exported to Japan in the fourteenth century. Derived from an archaic bronze hu vessel, its shape is creatively transformed into a flower vase with a large mouth. On its shoulder, a band of decoration combines relief swirls and animal masks from ancient bronzes with geometric scrolls found on contemporary lacquer and ceramic wares. Covered in a lustrous patina, this vase reflects the Japanese aristocratic taste for unadorned Chinese bronzes as residential furnishings.
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