Winterthur exhibit 'Made in the Americas': A moment four continents came together

T he first thing you see when you enter "Made in the Americas: The New World Discovers Asia," now on exhibit at Winterthur, is a lacquerware chest with inlaid mother-of-pearl, made in Japan around 1600. With its sparkling silver-and-gold surface, it seems to embody the greed and wonder of a moment when people all around the globe were discovering one another. With a chest like this, you don't even need a treasure.