Plaque with dragons, Ming dynasty (1368–1644), early 15th century. Ivory. H. 11.1 cm; W. 10.8 cm; D. 1.6 cm. Gift of Florence and Herbert Irving, 2019, 2019.193.3. © 2000–2024 The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

This exquisite plaque features detailed relief carvings of five sinuous dragons amid stylized clouds. Not satisfied merely to reproduce an existing design, the artist enhanced the motif’s visual appeal by articulating novel attributes for the five dragons, including long, elephantlike snouts, single long horns, feline heads, and even beaks resembling those of an eagle.