Language of the Soul – Mudra in Buddhist Art
The mudras, or hand positions, of Buddhist artworks are not random whims of the artist. Each mudra conveys a message and commemorates important moments in the life of…
Journal
Peoples, deities and the objects they made: notes on the cultures behind the collection.
Strand by Strand – Tutsi Basketry Weaving
The art of weaving is as old as civilization, invented for their utilitarian value. However among the Tutsi people in Central Africa, crafters have interlaced functionality with artistry,…
Seeking Answers Elsewhere – Yoruba Divination Art
The Yoruba people of West Africa have a long history of divination practice in which each complex stage requires special objects created by artistic masters. Individual gods, or…
Keeping the Faith – Russian Old Believer Icons
In the late 17th century, a group of Russian Christians called the Old Believers refused to accept new reforms made to the Orthodox Church. Though they were prosecuted…
Collecting African Art: Part Two – Provenance
In the first part of this series, we learned African art has been given a specific set of criteria that must be fulfilled to be considered traditional and…
Land of the Dead?… – Tibetan Citipati
Halloween does not exist in Tibet but ghosts and skeletons abound in Tibetan folklore – from zombie-like ro-langs that prey on the living to skeletal pairs called citipati…
A New Spin on an Old Debate – Globe Collectibles
A debate of who discovered America leads to a discourse on the history of map making and the uniqueness of collectible globes – from antique to modern -…
Collecting African Art: Part One – Authenticity
There are several variables to consider when collecting traditional African art but foremost among them is authenticity. That means the work was made to be – and was…
Nature as Artist – Chinese Picture Stones
Gongshi and Picture stones represent a long history of natural artworks in China. Shaped by the forces of nature, the stones developed their unique forms, texture and color…
Painting the Mysteries of the Great Unknown – Jain Artworks
Jainism is one of the oldest religions of the world, practiced predominantly in India. Its literature of doctrines and philosophy are as deep and mysterious as its history.…