Yoruba Style Helmet (Late 19th to early 20th century CE)
The Yoruba Style Helmet is tied to the secretive Oro association, whose masquerades were rarely seen by outsiders, adding an air of mystery.
Wood
One of the oldest materials used by humankind, essential for construction, sculpture, and artistic expression across cultures and time periods.
Eleven-Headed Guanyin (c.1100-1200 CE)
The Eleven-Headed Guanyin is a striking wooden sculpture from China, dating to the late Northern Song dynasty.
Prince Shotoku at Age Two (1300s CE)
This wooden statue, adorned with lacquer and rock-crystal inlaid eyes depicts Prince Shōtoku Taishi at age two.
Wooden Deity (1100s CE)
A 100 cm magnolia wood figure deity with traces of color, blending Buddhist tenbu and Shinto kami iconography.
Shakyamuni (c.900 CE)
Carved c. 900 CE, this Japanese wooden Buddha called Shakyamuni with lacquer shows thick folds and meditation mudras.
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.
Female Statuette (2040–1859 BCE)
A painted wooden female statuette from 2040–1859 BC, depicting a naked woman with jewelry, shaped with stylized hips and a detailed necklace.
Prestige Stool (Kuo Fo) (1800s CE)
A wooden stool from the 1800s, adorned with glass beads and leopard motifs, layered with cotton and plant fiber.
Female Offering Bearer (2040–1648 BCE)
A wooden offering bearer from 2040–1648 BCE, showing a woman in a kalasiris dress, crafted from tamarisk with a sycamore base.