Asia

Asia, a vast continent of ancient civilizations, diverse traditions, and artistic innovation spanning millennia.

Head of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara from the Kushan Empire, 300–500 CE

Head of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (300-500 CE)

Antiquities Asia Kushan Empire Sculpture

This ethereal head of Avalokiteshvara invites viewers to ponder the selfless ideals of bodhisattvas—enlightened beings who delay their own nirvana to aid others.

Standing bronze Buddha statue, 591 CE, draped robe and raised hand gesture

Standing Bronze Buddha (591 CE)

Antiquities Asia Ceremonial & Religious India

The bronze Buddha was commissioned by a Nepalese nun named Pariśuddhamati from a village in the Kathmandu Valley, likely at a workshop in northeastern India near Bihar or Uttar Pradesh.

Octafoil-Shaped Mirror Featuring Ci Fei (900-1400 CE)

Antiquities Asia China Household Items Korea

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.

Goddess Uma sculpture, 1000s CE, carved figure with jewelry and drapery

Goddess Uma (1000s CE)

Antiquities Asia Ceremonial & Religious Nepal

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.

Chinese bronze ding tripod vessel, Shang dynasty period, 1250–1046 BCE

Ding Tripod (1250-1046 BCE)

Antiquities Asia Ceremonial & Religious China

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.

Rustam Killing the White Div, Safavid Persian painting, 1560–1580

Rustam Killing The White Div (1560-1580 CE)

Art Illustration Painting

This particular Rustam illustration, created in Shiraz, a major center for manuscript production, reflects the Safavid era’s emphasis on cultural identity and artistic excellence.

Qilin statue from China, Ming dynasty sculpture, 1420–1450 CE

Qilin Statue (1420–1450 CE)

Antiquities Asia China Sculpture

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.

Female Sphinx from Petra, Nabataean architectural fragment, early 1st century CE

Female Sphinx (Early 1st century CE)

Antiquities Middle East Nabatea Sculpture

This female sphinx, an architectural fragment from the Nabataean city of Petra in Jordan, serves as a window into a lost world of hybrid creatures and divine protectors.

Eleven-Headed Guanyin, Chinese wooden sculpture, c. 1100–1200 CE

Eleven-Headed Guanyin (c.1100-1200 CE)

Antiquities Asia China Sculpture

The Eleven-Headed Guanyin is a striking wooden sculpture from China, dating to the late Northern Song dynasty.