ticketsMember | Make a donation

Boys with leaves and boxes

19th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 219
Two boys holding a lotus or leaf and a box are popular New Year’s images symbolic of harmony and union. Known as the hehe twins, in reference to the characters for these virtues both of which are read he, this pair is also thought to have been inspired by the legendary Tang dynasty (618–907) Buddhist monks Hanshan and Shide.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Boys with leaves and boxes
  • Period: Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
  • Date: 19th century
  • Culture: China
  • Medium: Horn
  • Dimensions: H. inc. base 3 1/2 in. (8.9 cm); W. 2 3/4 in. (7 cm); D. 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm)
  • Classification: Horn
  • Credit Line: Gift of Ellen Barker, 1942
  • Object Number: 42.90.31, 32a, b
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Boy with leaves and box, Horn, China
Boy with leaves and box
China
19th century
Boy with leaves and box, Horn, China
Boy with leaves and box
China
19th century
Ink palette, Jade (nephrite), silver (case), China
Ink palette
China
19th century
God of longevity, Jade (nephrite), China
God of longevity
China
19th century
Figures of Daoist deities, Jade (nephrite) and agate, China
Figures of Daoist deities
China
19th century

Related Content

Perspectives

Articles, audio, and video from The Met's online magazine.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.