Visiting The Met? The Temple of Dendur will be closed Sunday, April 27 through Friday, May 9. The Met Fifth Avenue will be closed Monday, May 5.

Objects in Disguise

Not everything is always as it seems, especially when artists make one material look like another. Look closely at how objects were made to find this week’s connections.

Play Art Links

Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Kenyon Cox American, Oil on canvas, American — Augustus Saint-Gaudens
Kenyon Cox
1887, replica 1908

Freedom, a Fable, Kara Walker American, Pop-up artist's book — Freedom, a Fable
Multiple artists/makers
1997

Branches and Vines Quilt, Ernestine Eberhardt Zaumseil American, Cotton, silk, and wool, American — Branches and Vines Quilt
Ernestine Eberhardt Zaumseil
ca. 1875

Moon jar, Porcelain, Korea — Moon jar
Korea
second half 18th century

Saturday Morning, Willie Birch American, Gouache on paper with painted papier-mâché frame — Saturday Morning
Willie Birch
1987

Female figure (’otua fefine), Whale ivory, Ha'apai Islands — Female figure (’otua fefine)
Ha'apai Islands
Early 19th century

Paper Med No.18, Su Xianzhong Chinese, White porcelain, kiln brick, China — Paper Med No.18
Su Xianzhong
2020

Pair of wall lights, Gilt bronze, painted iron, soft- and hard-paste porcelain, Italian — Pair of wall lights
Italian
ca. 1750–60

Costume Armor and Sword in the Classical Style, Hallé French, Linen, papier-mâché, bole, gold leaf, graphite (helmet); silk, cotton, metal coils and spangles, metallic yarn (tunic); steel, wood, gesso, silver, gold leaf (sword), French, Paris — Costume Armor and Sword in the Classical Style
Hallé
ca. 1788–90

Inrō with Peacocks and Flowers, Koma Yasutada Japanese, Black lacquer and nashiji ground with gold and silver iroe togidashi and hiramaki-e<br/>Netsuke: Kintarō with forest animals on peach stone; ivory, mother-of-pearl, tortoise shell <br/>Ojime: melon; red bronze with iron and gilding, Japan — Inrō with Peacocks and Flowers
Koma Yasutada
19th century

Étagère, Black lacquered, painted and gilded wood and papier mâché, mother-of-pearl, British — Étagère
British
mid-19th century

Raw Attraction, Chakaia Booker American, Rubber tire, steel, and wood — Raw Attraction
Chakaia Booker
2001

Chosen, Hugh Hayden American, Alaskan yellow cedar and steel — Chosen
Hugh Hayden
2023