Object Notes

Game pieces need a place for storage. This ivory game counter box is elegantly painted with men and animals, suggesting that it was probably ornamented in the western Indian state of Rajasthan. One side shows a procession of men, a horse, and an elephant.

This partially gilded stone model of the Mahabodhi Temple was created in the 12th or 13th century in India, probably for pilgrims visiting the temple to take home for their devotions.

Painting from India survives from at least the 5th century in the form of magnificent murals on the interior of Buddhist monasteries, and then later in Buddhist and Jain religious manuscripts painting on palm leaves.

These elaborately carved wooden brackets originally served as flanking struts at the entrance of a mansion belonging to a wealthy mercantile family. More specifically, they were created for a Hindu merchant community in south India known as the Chettinad.

These elaborately carved wooden brackets originally served as flanking struts at the entrance of a mansion belonging to a wealthy mercantile family. More specifically, they were created for a Hindu merchant community in south India known as the Chettinad.

These elaborately carved wooden brackets originally served as flanking struts at the entrance of a mansion belonging to a wealthy mercantile family. More specifically, they were created for a Hindu merchant community in south India known as the Chettinad.

Enameled gold jewelry was popular from at least the 16th century onward in north India, and the best-known center of production is Jaipur in the modern state of Rajasthan—from which this buckle probably originates.

This elaborate armband from Thanjavur was associated with jewelry worn by practitioners of Bharatanatyam, a classical south Indian dance form that originated in the state of Tamil Nadu.

This elaborate necklace from Thanjavur may have been associated with jewelry worn by practitioners of Bharatanatyam, a classical south Indian dance form that originated in the state of Tamil Nadu.