Standing Buddha (c.900 CE)
Cast c. 900 CE, this Kashmiri brass Buddha with silver inlays steps off a lotus pedestal.
Asia
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.
Jar With Dragon Design (1700s CE)
Painted c. 1700s, this Joseon porcelain jar from Korea shows a dragon chasing a cintamani pearl.
Raft Cup (1345 CE)
Hammered in 1345 CE, this Yuan dynasty silver raft cup from China depicts Zhang Qian with a loom stone.
Portrait of Dharmakirti (c.1400s-1500s CE)
Cast c. 1400s–1500s, this Tibetan silver-copper sculpture shows Dharmakirti on a lotus pedestal.
Feline Head, Bovine Horns and Elephant Trunk (1300–1000 BCE)
Carved c. 1300–1000 BCE, this Shang dynasty jade feline head from China show a feline-horned creature.
Headrest With Three Lions (916–1125 CE)
Glazed c. 916–1125, this Liao dynasty ceramic headrest from China bears three sancai lions.
Plate With Winged Griffin (400s-600s CE)
Hammered c. 500–600s CE, this Soghdian silver plate from Central Asia depicts a griffin in relief.
Beth Misona Treasure Chalice (c.500-700 CE)
The Beth Misona chalice was forged c. 500–700 CE, this Byzantine silver chalice from Syria shows portraits of saints and Christ.
Recumbent Bull (700s CE)
Cast in the 700s CE, this gilt bronze bull from China’s Tang dynasty rests with detailed neck folds.
Shakyamuni (c.900 CE)
Carved c. 900 CE, this Japanese wooden Buddha called Shakyamuni with lacquer shows thick folds and meditation mudras.
Colossal Head of a Deva (c.1200 CE)
Carved c. 1200 CE, this sandstone head from Cambodia’s Preah Khan crowns a deva with a lotus tiara.
Ballgame Palma (c.900-1100 CE)
Carved 900–1100 CE, this stone ballgame palma from Mexico’s Gulf Coast shows bats and sacrifice in Classic Veracruz style.