Ming Birds And Flowering Branches Lacquer Tray

A decorative serving tray featuring a Met favorite.

Elegant birds fly among flowering branches and swirling clouds in this idyllic scene adapted from a Ming dynasty–era tapestry, or kesi. Crafted in 17th-century China and now in The Met collection, it was probably created as part of a larger decorative panel featuring hundreds of birds watched over by a phoenix. Said to appear in divine places, the mythological phoenix symbolized a righteous ruler with loyal officials.