As Above So Below – Indian Mukhalingams
In Hinduism, one of the most important gods is Shiva, the destroyer, whose powers are used to cleanse the world of negativity. Lingams have been worshipped for thousands…
Journal
Peoples, deities and the objects they made: notes on the cultures behind the collection.
A Long Lineage – Ancestor Worship
Ancestor worship has been an integral part of Chinese culture for thousands of years. Altar shrines, as the place where spirits of the forefathers were believed reside, were…
Covering Your Back! – Baule Slingshots
To the Baule people of Ivory Coast, West Africa, even utilitarian objects like the slingshot, known as potomo waka, are works of art. While adhering to the distinct…
A Flying Legacy – Asafo Warrior Flags
Among the Fante people of Ghana, West Africa, traditional warrior groups called Asafo have existed for centuries, their customs heavily influenced by contact with European militaries. Most prominent…
You Get the Message? – Ashanti Linguist’s Staffs
In the Ashanti kingdom, royal dignitaries called Akyeame are responsible for relating the king’s words to the people through proverbs , a highly valued oral tradition. To symbolize…
Journey to Agra – Pietra Dura
Pietra dura, meaning ‘hard rock’ in Latin, is an ancient Roman inlay technique that was revived in Italy during the 16th century. In subsequent years, pietra dura works…
Knights in Shining Armor – European Brass Rubbings
The art of brass rubbings began as a method of preservation when historians discovered memorial plates dating from the 13th to 16th centuries. Featuring knights in full armor,…
The Look of Love – Pichvai from Nathdwara and the Deccan Plateau
Pichvais are a high form of Indian devotional paintings in honor of Krishna, the Hindu god of love. Beginning in the 15th century, a new sect of worship…
Spirited Away – Himalayan Masking Traditions
The masking traditions of Nepal and Tibet have until recent decades been obscured and safeguarded behind the Himalayan mountains. Buddhism and Hinduism introduced canonical masks based on their…
Quenching the Soul – Indonesian Kendi Water Vessels
To honor the sacredness of water in Indonesia, rituals vessels called kendi have been used for centuries. Some are designed with symbolic motifs for good fortune, fertility and…