Peoples, deities and the objects they made: notes on the cultures behind the collection.
Avalokiteshvara, whose Sanskrit name means “the lord who looks down with compassion,” is the most beloved bodhisattva in the Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhist traditions. Known in Tibet as Chenrezig, in China as…
The Phurba, known in Sanskrit as the Kila, is a three-sided ritual dagger central to Tibetan Buddhist tantric practice. Its name in both languages means “nail” or “peg,” referring to its function…
In Tibetan Buddhism, the great ceremonial drum known as the nga is the rhythmic heart of the monastery. Far larger than the small handheld damaru, the nga is a double-headed frame drum…
Buddhist tantric practice, also known as Vajrayana or the Diamond Vehicle, represents one of the three great currents of Buddhism alongside Theravada and Mahayana. The word tantra literally means “thread” or “continuum,”…
Among the most fascinating sacred objects produced in the Buddhist cultures of Tibet and Nepal is the traveling shrine, known in Tibetan as a gau when worn as an amulet box, or…
The Medicine Buddha, known in Sanskrit as Bhaisajyaguru, in Tibetan as Sangye Menla, and in Chinese as Yaoshi Fo, is one of the most beloved figures in the Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhist…
Nepalese artisans occupy a unique place in the cultural and economic history of the Himalayan region, having shaped centuries of religious, architectural, and artistic life across South and Central Asia. Their craftsmanship,…
Ancestor portraits, known in Chinese tradition as commemorative likenesses of deceased forebears, grew out of one of the deepest currents of Chinese culture: the Confucian principle of filial piety. From early imperial…
The Oromo, the largest ethnic group in the Horn of Africa, have sustained a rich tradition of handicraft production for centuries. As primarily pastoralist and agricultural communities spread across the varied landscapes…
The Indonesian island of Java is home to some of the world’s most exceptional petrified wood. Formed millions of years ago, when ancient forests were buried under volcanic ash, mudflows, and sediment…
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