Marble pilaster with acanthus scrolls

The acanthus scroll that decorates the pilaster, presumably from a public building, is populated with a variety of birds. Such imagery is found on major imperial monuments at Rome, notably the Ara Pacis Augusta... more

Glass amphoriskos with band of scrolls

Translucent pale purple, with handle in translucent pale yellow green.Uneven tubular rim, folded out, over, and in; neck flaring downward; ovoid body; cylindrical base, with flat but uneven bottom; small rod ha... more

Marble acroterion with acanthus scrolls

This pair of reliefs once decorated the corner of a roof or high balustrade. They were set at right angles to each other, and at the corner joint a thick stalk would have emerged from a bed of floppy acanthus l... more

Marble corner acroterion with acanthus scrolls

This pair of reliefs once decorated the corner of a roof or high balustrade. They were set at right angles to each other, and at the corner joint a thick stalk would have emerged from a bed of floppy acanthus l... more

Glass amphoriskos with band of scrolls

Translucent pale streaky purple, with handles in translucent pale blue green.Rim folded out, down, round, and in, and pressed into sides of mouth; cylindrical neck; ovoid body; low cylindrical base, with concav... more

Glass amphoriskos with band of scrolls

Translucent purple; handles in same color.Rim folded out, over, and in, then smoothed into flaring mouth; cylindrical neck; ovoid body; cylindrical base, with flat bottom; two rod handles attached in a pad to s... more

Three Poems from the “Collection of Poems Ancient and Modern” (Kokin wakashū), known as the “Araki Fragment” (Araki-gire)

Calligraphy traditionally attributed to Fujiwara no Yukinari (Kōzei) (Japanese, 972–1027) late Heian period (ca. 900–1185)

Fragment of a Frieze with Acanthus Scrolls, Palmettes, and Flowers

The monastic community of Bawit, founded in the 300s by Apa (Father) Apollo at a small village, grew to consist of numerous complexes with residences, chapels, and service structures and two large churches prof... more

Tabula (Square) with Vine Scrolls Containing Aquatic Birds

Tunics and domestic furnishings were often decorated with orbiculi and tabulae (round and square medallions), frequently arranged in pairs. Birds and vine scrolls were popular motifs of abundance, the use of wh... more

Stirrup Spout Bottle with Scrolls

Peru

Tabula (Square) with Vine Scrolls Containing Aquatic Birds

Tunics and domestic furnishings were often decorated with orbiculi and tabulae (round and square medallions), frequently arranged in pairs. Birds and vine scrolls were popular motifs of abundance, the use of wh... more

Fragment of a Frieze with Vine Scrolls Bearing Grapes

The monastic community of Bawit, founded in the 300s by Apa (Father) Apollo at a small village, grew to consist of numerous complexes with residences, chapels, and service structures and two large churches prof... more

Gold lunate earring with scrolls

Frieze with Vine Scrolls and Birds

Animals inhabiting vine scrolls were a popular classical motif that remained in use throughout the Empire in the Byzantine era. Attributed to Egypt, Bawit

Oval bowl with grapevine scrolls inhabited by birds and animals

This oval bowl, made from a single piece of hammered silver, is an example of one of the new vessel forms popular during the second half of the Sasanian period (A.D. 224-651): the shape is typical for wine drin... more

Ring Cast with Incised Scrolls

Scroll

Attributed to Egypt

Talismanic Scroll

Attributed to Egypt

Fragment of a Talismanic Scroll

Attributed to Egypt

Biconical Bead with Scrolls

This bead and bead 1980.457 feature superb patterns of scrolling vines whose bifurcations elegantly extend the design to fit the required space. The patterns recall those of the beveled style of the ninth centu... more

Excerpts from Bai Juyi's "Biography of a Master of Drunken Poetry" (Suigin sensei den)

Comprising just four columns of Chinese calligraphy removed from a long handscroll, this precious fragment of early eleventh-century calligraphy has been mounted as a hanging scroll. It was brushed by the celeb... more

Scroll Cover with Animals, Birds, and Flowers

A classic example of Song tapestry, this elegant scroll cover resembles a famous uncut piece (now in Liaoning Provincial Museum, China). This tapestry entered the Museum’s collection as the handscroll cover for... more

Talismanic Scroll

Attributed to Egypt

Talismanic Scroll

Centuries before block printing was introduced in Europe, the technique was used in the Islamic world to produce miniature texts consisting of prayers, incantations, and Qur'anic verses that were kept in amulet... more

Talismanic Scroll

Talismanic scroll in block-print was rolled and stored in an amulet box Made in Egypt

Talismanic Scroll

Attributed to Egypt

Talismanic Scroll

Centuries before block-printing was introduced in Europe, the technique was used in the Islamic world to produce miniature texts consisting of prayers, incantations, and Qur’anic verses. These were kept in amul... more

Fragment from a Talismanic Scroll

Only the upper left corner of this page has survived. The text, which includes a passage reading "the heart of the one who wears it," together with the evidence of folds on the paper point to its original use a... more

Talismanic Scroll

Attributed to Egypt

Talismanic Scroll

Attributed to Egypt

Sketch of an "Inviting Rain" Mandala

This unusual mandala, a sketch from a compendium of esoteric Buddhist images, set in the watery world of dragon kings, was used in rites to end drought. Interestingly, there are no known polychrome or highly fi... more

Scroll Cover with Birds and Flowers

Some of the earliest preserved examples of Chinese tapestry survived as covers for paintings. This piece came into the Museum’s collection as the cover for the handscroll Dragon Boat Regatta on Jinming Lake aft... more

Segment of the Lotus Sutra (Hokekyō)

This five-line segment of a sumptuous scroll of the Lotus Sutra perfectly embodies the aesthetics and religious practice of the late Heian period. The text, from chapter 19, is a litany of fabled fragrances. Th... more

Iconographic Drawing of Saturn (Doyō)

Rituals dedicated to the stars and planets were introduced to Japan from China in the ninth century together with Esoteric Buddhist teachings. Doyō (Sanskrit: Shanaishchara), or the planet Saturn, is one of the... more

Memyo Bosatsu

This iconographic drawing represents Memyo Bosatsu, a deity of sericulture who provides the poor with clothes. The bodhisattva is thought to have originally been a deity indigenous to Chinese popular cults that... more

Three poems from the “Later Collection of Japanese Poems” (Gosen wakashū), known as the “Karasumaru Fragment” (Karasumaru-gire)

Traditionally attributed to Fujiwara no Sadayori (Japanese, 995–1045) Heian period (794–1185)

Daiitoku Myōō

Daiitoku Myōō (Sanskrit: Yamantaka) is one of the five Great Light Kings of Esoteric Buddhism. His Sanskrit name means "one who stops the power of the King of Hell." He is shown with multiple heads, eyes, legs,... more

Landscape in the style of Fan Kuan

Once considered a work of the Ming period (1368–1644), this monumental landscape in the style of Fan Kuan can be dated stylistically to the twelfth century. A mountainscape built up in three stages, the paintin... more

Oil bottle decorated with floral scrolls and lotus petals

Small flat bottles like this stored oil for women’s hair. Goryeo dynasty (918–1392)

Daishōjin Bosatsu, from “Album of Buddhist Deities from the Diamond World and Womb World Mandalas” (“Kontai butsugajō”)

A serene bodhisattva, or compassionate Buddhist deity, wearing an elaborate golden crown sits on a large lotus pedestal. The rainbow of colors on the body, garments, and halo are remarkably preserved from the t... more

Page from the “Lady Ise Collection” (Ise shū), from the Nishi-Honganji Edition of the Thirty-Six Poetic Immortals (Nishi-Honganji-bon Sanjūrokuninshū)

late Heian period (ca. 900–1185)

Three Poems from the “Later Collection of Japanese Poems” (Gosen wakashū), or “Shirakawa Fragment” (Shirakawa-gire)

Traditionally attributed to Monk Saigyō (Japanese, 1118–1190) Heian period (794–1185)

Kongōyasha Myōō

Kongōyasha Myōō is one of the Five Great Guardian Kings in Esoteric Buddhism. His ferocious aspect is a manifestation of the wrath of the Five Wisdom Buddhas against evil. Kongōyasha Myōō is presented with thre... more

Travelers in a Wintry Forest

During the tenth and eleventh centuries, majestic trees rivaled panoramic landscapes as sources of artistic inspiration. The hermit-painter Jing Hao (act. 900–930), for example, saw in the pine tree "the moral ... more

Maebyeong

Goryeo dynasty (918–1392)

Cup and Saucer with Floral Scrolls

Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279)

Cup and Saucer with Floral Scrolls

Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279)

Page from the Illustrations and Explanations of the Three Jewels (Sanbō ekotoba), known as the Tōdaiji Fragment (Tōdaiji-gire)

Calligraphy attributed to Minamoto no Toshiyori (Japanese, 1055–1129) Heian period (794–1185)

Page from Illustrations and Explanations of the Three Jewels (Sanbō e-kotoba), one of the “Tōdaiji Fragments” (Tōdaiji-gire)

Illustrations and Explanations of the Three Jewels was originally compiled in 984 by the courtier-poet Minamoto no Tamenori as an introductory guide to Buddhism. The “Three Jewels” of Buddhism comprise the Budd... more

Anchira-taisho Jochi

The subject of this iconographic drawing, which originally belonged to Kōzanji, a temple in the mountains northwest of Kyoto, is generally identified as General Anchira (Andira in Sanskrit), one of the twelve g... more