Mahavira
Mahavira was one of the great teachers in ancient India and the person to whom Jainism as a vigorous and coherent movement is attributed. Jainism is considered the…
Journal
Peoples, deities and the objects they made: notes on the cultures behind the collection.
Full of Charm – Chinese Jade Toggles
Chinese toggles may look like miniature sculptures but they were also functional objects. With no pockets in traditional attires, toggles acted as small counterweights attached to the drawstrings…
A Different Kind of Flame – Indian Oil Lamps
In India, oil lamps have been used for thousands of years as ceremonial objects. No prayer or ritual could begin without lighting the oil lamp. The light of…
An Ancient Language – Christian Art in Ethiopia
Unlike most African nations, Christianity was not introduced to Ethiopia by European missionaries. The Ethiopian Kingdom had embraced the Orthodox Church in the 4th century. By the time…
Appreciating Buddhist Art: Part Three – Bodhisattvas
When viewing Buddhist artworks, one is bound to come across depictions of celestial beings called Bodhisattvas. They are enlightened beings or those on the path to enlightenment who…
Home is Where the Art Is – The Art of the Baga People
The Baga people of Guinea, West Africa are renowned for their sculptural artworks but among them, three stand out for their sheer size and artistry. The Bansonyi serpent…
Antique Chinese Furniture
The golden age of antique Chinese furniture making came to an end with the decline of the Qing dynasty, which ended in 1911.
Lost-Wax Casting
he art of lost-wax casting goes back over 5000 years, evidenced by excavations of copper objects in Israel dating to approximately 3700 BCE. The methodology begins with carving…
The Art of Aroma – Niche Perfumes
The history of perfumes reaches back many thousands of years, used by men and women alike to enhance beauty and amplify presence. In the fragrance industry today, what…
In the Dead of Night – Japanese Ghost and Demon Prints
Japan is a land immersed in tales of ghosts and demons. During the Edo period, scary stories were exchanged first as tests of courage and then as a…