Priest King or Deity (Ca.1600 BCE)
Carved around 1600 BCE, this basalt priest king from North Syria stands tall with a horned crown and bone-inlaid eyes, holding a bowl.
Asia
Asia, a vast continent of ancient civilizations, diverse traditions, and artistic innovation spanning millennia.
Negoro Tray (1392–1573 CE)
A wooden tray from Japan’s Muromachi period, adorned with red-over-black Negoro lacquer, crafted for Buddhist rituals, showcasing elegance and spiritual duality.
Buddha of the Future, Miroku Bosatsu (Late 600s CE)
A bronze figure from the late 600s, depicting Maitreya (Buddha of the future) with incised details, finished with traces of gilding.
Bronze Statue of Ganesha (1070 CE)
A bronze figure from c. 1070, depicting Ganesha with an elephant head, cast with four arms and a modaka.
Nataraja, Shiva as the Lord of Dance (1000s CE)
A bronze nataraja statue from the 1000s, portraying Shiva dancing within a flame ring, cast with four arms and a dwarf base.
Guardian Figure Nio: II (1185-1333 CE)
A wooden statue from the 1200s, depicting an open-mouthed Nio guardian, assembled with yosegi-zukuri technique and faded polychromy.
Shinto Deity: II (900s CE)
A wooden figure from the 900s, representing a Shinto kami, carved with Tang-style robes and traces of polychromy.
Portable Buddhist Temple (900s CE)
A kaolinite buddhist temple from the 900s, displaying scenes from the Buddha’s life, carved with niches on each side.
Bodhisattva of Compassion as Lokeshvara the Sky Flyer (Khasarpana) (Late 1000s CE)
A stone figure from the late 1000s, depicting Lokeshvara with Amitabha crown, carved from kaolinite with traces of pigment.
Buddha Calling on Earth to Witness (800s CE)
A stone figure from the 800s, depicting Buddha in Bhumisparsha Mudra, carved from chloritic schist with ficus leaves above.
One-Faced Linga (Ekamukhalinga) (600–700s CE)
A stone linga from the 600s–700s, depicting Shiva with a crescent moon, carved from chloritic schist with a third eye and matted hair.
Seated Zenki (1400s CE)
A wooden figure from the 1400s, depicting Zenki with an axe, painted red with detailed carvings.