Belt clasp
Transcaucasia
Belt clasp
Transcaucasia
Horse bit and matching caveson (noseband)
Iran (?) Sasanian
Belt Buckle Tongue
Made in Burgundy
Attachment Plate and Loop of a Belt Buckle
Made in Burgundy
Mask of Bhairava
This object is from a rare group of early Brahmanical masks. The small fangs seen rising from the corners of the open mouth and the exposed upper teeth identify this deity as Bhairava, a wrathful form of Shiva.... more
Standing Buddha
Such portable metal images were important for the spread of the Gandharan style and have been found in Gandhara, Kashmir, and Tibet. The hairstyle of this Buddha is organized in repeating bands, a motif that is... more
Standing Buddha with Radiate Combined Halo
A few small personal images from Gandhara representing the Buddha have survived. This metal image blends elements seen in the stone sculpture of Gandhara with the Gupta style of north India. Its portability mad... more
Buddha with Radiate Halo and Mandorla
This image was likely used for personal veneration. The Buddha wears a typical Gandharan-style robe while his hair is reminiscent of images from Swat and Kashmir. Although the combined radiate halo and mandorla... more
Belt Buckle
Made in Burgundy
Belt Plate
Made in Burgundy
Lakshmi, Goddess of Prosperity
Lakshmi, the sustainer of life who personifies abundance in all its forms, is central to the Brahmanical vision of the universe. She was among the first female deities in India to assume an independent status i... more
Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara
This is one of the greatest early medieval metal icons associated with Buddhist art of the Swat Valley. The work is closely connected to related major schools of religious image making in Gilgit (northern Pakis... more
Linga with Face of Shiva (Ekamukhalinga)
This rare metal linga is addorsed with the figure of Shiva, who displays a rosary (aksamala) and citron fruit (vijapuraka), representing the seed of the universe. Shiva is routinely described as the “seedgiver,... more
Vajrasattva
The Esoteric Buddhist deity Vajrasattva holds a stylized thunderbolt and a bell and sits in royal ease on a stylized mountain, with his pendant foot supported by a lotus bloom. Two snake deities, a naga and nag... more
Karttikeya, the God of War
Here, the god of war sits regally on his vehicle, a peacock, as if enthroned. He displays the rosary (aksamala) favored by his father, Shiva, and, instead of his usual javelin, holds a disk standard seemingly w... more
Crowned and Jeweled Buddha
The Buddha is usually depicted in a monk’s simple garments; however, when he wears rich jewelry and a crown, he evokes the special form of Buddha as a cakravartin, or universal monarch. In Kashmir this form als... more
Mold for Making Jewelry
Attributed to India
Seated Female
Eastern Javanese period
Part of Lamp or Incense Burner Inscribed in Arabic with Good Wishes
Attributed to Iran
Metal Bottle with Faceted Design
A well-known shape in both metal and glass. The interlacing bands at the base and below the lip suggest a relationship with Samanid inscriptional pottery. Excavated in Iran, Nishapur
Horary quadrant
Muhammad ibn Mahmud Probably from Iran, Nishapur
Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Transcendent Wisdom
The Buddhist embodiment of transcendent wisdom wields a sword in one hand and a manuscript in the other, evoking the cutting away of ignorance and the transmission of enlightenment wisdom, respectively. The cro... more
Bottle with Ribbed Design
From Iran, Nishapur
Seated Buddha Reaching Enlightenment
This is a sublime and exceedingly rare early medieval depiction of the historical Buddha in meditation posture. His lowered right hand gestures to the earth, calling upon it to bear witness to his resistance of... more
Bell
Attributed to Iran
Foliate Pedestal for a Buddhist Image
This foliate pedestal supported an icon (now missing), probably of a seated Buddhist deity in an articulated lotus-bud mandala. The finely modeled openwork design is enhanced with independently cast and gilded ... more
Rice Server Inscribed in Arabic with Good Wishes
Common utensils in bronze, though frequently found during archaeological excavations, are rarely exhibited in museums because of the lack of artistic decoration on them. This example is a rare exception. Still ... more
Trefoil-shaped covered box with decoration of chrysanthemums
Lacquer, celadon, or bronze ensembles composed of four trefoil boxes surrounding a larger round or flower-shaped box served as containers for cosmetics or incense. Very few Goreyo-period lacquer boxes with moth... more
Incense Burner
Incense was widely used in the medieval Islamic world. At receptions and special events, servants would waft the guests with the aromatic smoke emanating from the openwork of the incense burner and sprinkle the... more
Mortar and pestle made for Abu Bakr 'Ali Malikzad al-Tabrizi
Two of the medallions on this mortar show Jauzahr, the fictitious eighth planet believed responsible for the eclipse of the sun and the moon. Although described in texts as a dragon monster, Jauzahr is depicted... more
Two Ewers with Lamp-shaped Spouts
The shape and decoration of this ewer and 54.64 are very similar. On this piece, the handle is preserved, and its leonine form is echoed in the lion mask on the lid. This object represents an early phase of the... more
Ewer
Attributed to Iran
Crucifix
Made in Cologne or Mosan (?)
Incense Burner
Incense was widely used in the medieval Islamic world. At receptions and special events, servants would waft the guests with the aromatic smoke emanating from the openwork of the incense burner and sprinkle the... more
Spoon
Attributed to Iran
Appliqué Plaque with a Standing Eagle
This small but powerfully rendered plaque depicting a heraldic bird highlights the varied uses of brass in the medieval Islamic world. The perforations in the body and wings of the bird indicates that thisobjec... more
Bracelet
Chad
Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Transcendent Wisdom
Manjushri and his counterpart, Prajnaparamita, the wisdom goddess, are understood as personifications of awakened knowledge. Both display the palm-leaf manuscript (pustaka) as their principal identifier. Manjus... more
The Goddess Durga Slaying the Buffalo Demon (Durga Mahishasura Mardini...
Functioning as an altar shrine, complete with a lustration basin, this icon depicts the goddess Durga in the act of conquering the buffalo demon Mahishasura. Durga crushes the beast with her foot and impales hi... more
Casket
Made in Iran, Khurasan
Inkwell with twelve Zodiac medallions
The twelve signs of the zodiac are arranged around the surface of the vessel in groups of four, each surrounding a central medallion with a horsemen or a falconer.Virgo (al-sunbula, "ear of corn") is the only s... more
Ewer with Lamp-Shaped Spout
The shape and decoration of this ewer is similar to 33.96. Both represent an early phase of the inlay technique, when areas of intricate inlay were balanced by broad zones of brass. Both bear Arabic inscription... more
Appliqué Plaque with a Tree and Four Birds
This small but powerfully rendered plaque depicting heraldic birds highlights the varied uses of brass in the medieval Islamic world. The perforations in the bodies and wings of the birds indicate that this obj... more
Square Tray with Recessed Medallion
By the early thirteenth century, the new approach to the decoration of metalwork was fully developed. Now, intricate inlaid designs enliven the entire surface. The motifs on this tray reflect the extensive deco... more
Candlestick
Attributed to Egypt
Standing Four-Armed Vishnu
Pala period
Candlestick
In the medallions decorating this candlestick sits a ruler on a lion‑throne with harpies and attendants, and figures holding a crescent personifying the Moon. Arabic inscriptions around the base and neck wish t... more
Ewer
Attributed to Egypt or Syria
Incense Burner
Damascus was producing luxury‑quality inlaid metalwork by the early thirteenth century. Many of these objects were made by artists trained in the Mosul tradition and share characteristics with Jaziran works, su... more
Pen Box
Attributed to Iran, possibly Tabriz
Candlestick Base
From Syria or Iraq
Inkwell with Zodiac Signs
One of the innovations of the Khurasani metalworkers is the development of animated inscriptions, in which parts of letters are transformed into animal or human figures. Here, the tall letters of the inscriptio... more