Art To Go

Legendary Hybrids

In Large Jar Decorated with Dragons, a brilliant blue dragon twists across a white surface. This kind of pattern is typical of ceramics made during China’s Ming Dynasty (1368–1644 CE). During this period, artists often used elements from the natural world like flowers, vines, fruits, and landscapes to decorate pottery. Mythical creatures, especially dragons, were also a popular subject.

Wearing Water

In late 19th- and early 20th-century Edo (present-day Tokyo), Japan, firefighters would tear down surrounding buildings to prevent a blaze from spreading, and for protection, they wore hikeshi-banten (reversible coats) like this one that were made of layers of cotton fabric stitched together.