This category includes antiquities from the vast and culturally diverse regions of Asia. The objects illustrate long-standing artistic traditions and the ways in which material culture expressed religious ideas, social values, and connections between communities across time.
The mother goddess captures an intimate, everyday moment of maternal careβplayful, protective, and deeply humanβmaking it one of the most expressive and relatable representations of motherhood in early medieval Indian art.
A patera is a shallow bowl or dish traditionally used for libationsβthe ritual pouring of liquids such as water, wine, or oil as offerings to deities, ancestors, or sacred forces.
This Wade cup, a bowl-shaped drinking vessel, created in Iran during the early 13th century, features a dramatic animated inscription around the rim where Arabic letters are formed by lively full-figure human beings, animals, and birds.
Crafted from lightweight paulownia wood and vividly painted, this gigaku mask represents the youthful son of a widowed Persian elder in gigaku, a lively form of masked dance drama imported from continental Asia.
This ethereal head of Avalokiteshvara invites viewers to ponder the selfless ideals of bodhisattvasβenlightened beings who delay their own nirvana to aid others.
The bronze Buddha was commissioned by a Nepalese nun named PariΕuddhamati from a village in the Kathmandu Valley, likely at a workshop in northeastern India near Bihar or Uttar Pradesh.
Its polished front served as a reflective surface, while the intricately decorated back tells a heroic tale, making it both a functional and symbolic object dedicated to Ci Fei.
Through her poised expression and confident gesture, the goddess Uma sculpture invites viewers to explore themes of feminine power, creation, and cosmic harmony, offering a window into the rich interplay of Hinduism and Buddhism in medieval Nepal.
This Ding tripod not only served practical purposes but also embodied transcendent concepts, acting as a symbolic messenger from otherworldly realms, captivating us with its blend of artistry and enigma.
This artifact not only showcases Ming Dynasty artistry but also invites us to explore how ancient myths like the qilin were woven into imperial symbolism to promote moral and political ideals.
The Eleven-Headed Guanyin is a striking wooden sculpture from China, dating to the late Northern Song dynasty.
Created in the 7th century during the Mon-Dvaravati period, this teaching buddha emerged in central Thailand, a hub of Mon kingdoms.