Lokapala and Materials
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Part of the Buddhist tradition, lokapala are the heavenly guardians of the four cardinal directions.
The Eight Immortals of the Wine Cup
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Richly painted screens became the major form of decoration in the castles and palaces of the nobility and military lords in 16th century Japan.
1993.7 Head of Buddha
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
This example of Gandharan Buddhist art from the 2nd to 3rd century was carved from dark gray schist probably quarried in the area around S
Dancing figure
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Temples for adherents of Jainism, an important religion particularly in western India, are often situated on elevated places such as Mount Abu. Jainism favors asceticism, accomplished by strict dietary restrictions, as well as pilgrimages that can involve arduous ascents up mountains to reach temple sites.
Cupisnique
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Cupisnique culture flourished from ca. 1000 to 200 BCE along what is now Peru's Pacific Coast, with its cultural center in a small, dry valley north of the Chicama Valley, Peru. Cupisnique had a distinctive style of adobe clay architecture, but shared artistic styles and religious symbols with Chavín (Chavín de Huántar).
Paracas
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Paracas culture is named after a desert peninsula on the southern coast of Peru. The deserts of the Paracas peninsula, whose name means “sand falling like rain,” have preserved fragile objects deposited in cemeteries some 2,000 years ago. In the late 1920s, Peruvian archaeologists recovered more than 400 textile-wrapped funerary bundles from Paracas excavations.
Anthracite
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Anthracite is a variety of coal that has a high luster. It has the fewest impurities and is the least plentiful form of coal. Anthracite is similar in appearance to jet and is sometimes used as an imitation of a mineraloid.
Jet (lignite)
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Jet is a dense, black, semi precious type of lignite that has a brilliant polish and is often used ornamentally. Considered to be a minor gemstone but not a true mineral, jet is a mineraloid. With an organic origin, jet derives from the extreme pressure decomposition of wood from millions of years ago. Found in two forms, hard jet is created by carbon compression and salt water, whereas soft jet is formed by carbon compression and fresh water.
Sancai
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The sancai, or three color, technique is a hallmark of Tang dynasty (618-906 CE) clay sculpture. The colors were created by adding metallic oxides like iron and copper to lead glazes. The glaze was then splashed, streaked, and dappled over the surface of the sculptures.