Origin: Mediterranean Circa: 1 st Century BC Dimensions: 4.75 " (12.1cm) high x 4" (10.2cm) wide Collection: Classical Style: Graeco-Roman Medium: Marble

Origin: Mediterranean Circa: 1 st Century BC Dimensions: 4.75 " (12.1cm) high x 4" (10.2cm) wide Collection: Classical Style: Graeco-Roman Medium: Marble   « Less

According to myth, Zeus, king of the gods, fell madly in love with Leda, wife of the king of Sparta. He surprised her in the form of a swan as she was bathing at the river's  More »

According to myth, Zeus, king of the gods, fell madly in love with Leda, wife of the king of Sparta. He surprised her in the form of a swan as she was bathing at the river's edge. From the union and that with her mortal husband, Leda hatched four children from eggs: Castor and Pollux, Clytemnestra and Helen of Troy. Here, the voluptuous queen, clothed only in a clinging, diaphanous gown that reveals her figure, is courted by a rather small swan. A splendid example of the terra-cotta art famous in antiquity, this charming piece delights the senses even in a modern world that no longer believes such tales. - (P.4372)   « Less

Origin: Mediterranean Circa: 100 AD to 300 AD Dimensions: 3.1 " (7.9cm) high x 3.1 " (7.9cm) wide Collection: Classical Art Style: Roman Medium: Serpentine

Origin: Mediterranean Circa: 100 AD to 300 AD Dimensions: 3.1 " (7.9cm) high x 3.1 " (7.9cm) wide Collection: Classical Art Style: Roman Medium: Serpentine   « Less

When we picture the glories of the Classical Era, we imagine impressive ruins like the Athenian Acropolis and the Roman Forum, or think of famed sculptures preserved in  More »

When we picture the glories of the Classical Era, we imagine impressive ruins like the Athenian Acropolis and the Roman Forum, or think of famed sculptures preserved in museums like the Venus de Milo or the Discobolus. While these representative structures and sculptures reveal the masterful artistry of antiquity, they are lacking in regards to one important aspect: color. During the golden age of Greece and Rome, every architectural detail and sculpted effigy was decorated in vibrant polychrome to enhance and enliven the work. Alas, the ravages of time have wreaked havoc upon this delicate pigment, except in a few extraordinary cases, this marble sculpture of a youth being one such rare example. Wearing a cape known as chlamys where the original red pigment is preserved largely intact, this heroic youth stands with his left arm held at his side, relaxed. The chlamys is consistent with representations of the god Hermes or the Dioscurii twins, better known as the constellation Castor and Pollux, as well as hunters such as Meleager and Adonis. Beauty was so idealized in antiquity, that sometimes we cannot be sure if a work represents a powerful god or a mere mortal. While the modeling of this sculpture is impressive in itself, it is the painted highlights and its exquisite state of preservation that make it so extraordinary. - (X.0019)   « Less

Terracotta Feline Head - OF.248, Origin: Mediterranean, Circa: 800 AD to 1100 AD, Dimensions: 4.0" (10.2cm) high x 3.5" (8.9cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Islamic,  More »

Terracotta Feline Head - OF.248, Origin: Mediterranean, Circa: 800 AD to 1100 AD, Dimensions: 4.0" (10.2cm) high x 3.5" (8.9cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Islamic, Medium: Terracotta.   « Less

Bronze Mortar & Pestle - JB.1174, Circa: 11 th Century AD to 13 th Century AD, Dimensions: 4.5" (11.4cm) high x 4.9" (12.4cm) wide, Collection: Islamic, Medium: Bronze,  More »

Bronze Mortar & Pestle - JB.1174, Circa: 11 th Century AD to 13 th Century AD, Dimensions: 4.5" (11.4cm) high x 4.9" (12.4cm) wide, Collection: Islamic, Medium: Bronze, Condition: Extra Fine.   « Less

Glass Jug - AD.001, Origin: Eastern Mediterranean, Circa: 9 th Century AD to 11 th Century AD.

Glass Jug - AD.001, Origin: Eastern Mediterranean, Circa: 9 th Century AD to 11 th Century AD.   « Less

In 1979, a Soviet team of archaeologists excavated a burial mound in northern Afghanistan named by locals, Tillya Tepe, or the Hill of Gold. Much to their amazement, they  More »

In 1979, a Soviet team of archaeologists excavated a burial mound in northern Afghanistan named by locals, Tillya Tepe, or the Hill of Gold. Much to their amazement, they unearthed a find composed of more than twenty-one thousand gold treasures. This find represents one of the most important artistic legacies of the Bactrian Kingdom, a Hellenic civilization founded in the wake of Alexander the Great’s conquest that merged Greek culture with Indian and Siberian influences. The Bactrians flourished here for over a hundred year until they were eventually pushed out. As the kingdom dissolved, many talented artists and craftsmen trained in the Classical vocabulary migrated to the emerging culture of Gandhara where they created the first images of the Buddha as a human that seem to echo in their form and style the finest sculptures of Apollo. It is one of these same artists that likely crafted this gorgeous gold pyxis.A pyxis is a small container used for holding medicines or perfumes. This is a brilliant example of the sumptuous elegance of ancient objects. It is difficult to imagine putting anything inside this pyxis that could be more precious or valuable than the pyxis itself. In our modern era of machines and plastics, we have lost something. The inherent beauty of this object defies description. The imperfections of the form, the subtle bends and folds are the signature of an individual artisan; a signature lacking on today’s mass produced, one-size-fits-all merchandise. The inside of the lid is decorated by a softly incised undulating floral pattern. The banded handle of the lid recalls the forms of a turreted tower or pagoda. Overall, the superb metalwork of this vessel, the beauty of the form and material, is timeless. This lovely work serves as a link between the treasures of Bactrian gold unearthed in Tillya Tepe and the subsequent Gandhara civilizations whose artistic glories would culminate in the famed monumental Bamiyan Buddhas. - (PF.5516)   « Less

The ancient civilization of Gandhara thrived in the region of northeastern Afghanistan and northwestern Pakistan. Situated at a confluence of trading paths along the Silk  More »

The ancient civilization of Gandhara thrived in the region of northeastern Afghanistan and northwestern Pakistan. Situated at a confluence of trading paths along the Silk Route, the area was flooded in cultural influences ranging from Greece to China. Gandhara flourished under the Kushan Dynasty and their great king, Kanishka, who traditionally given credit for further spreading the philosophies of Buddhism throughout Central Asia and into China. This period is viewed as the most important era in the history of Buddhism. After the conquests of Alexander the Great, the creation of Greco-Bactrian kingdoms, and the general Hellenization of the subcontinent, Western aesthetical tastes became prominent. Greek influence began to permeate into Gandhara. Soon sculptors based the images of the Buddha on Greco-Roman models, depicting Him as a stocky and youthful Apollo, complete with long-lobed ears and loose monastic robes similar to a Roman toga. The extraordinary artistic creations of Gandhara reveal link between the different worlds of the East and West. This sculptural fragment depicts a bust of the Buddha as a young man. His hair is pulled together in a central bun that crowns his head. He wears a heavy looped earring that pulls down on his lobe. Remnants of red polychrome are visible on his lips, on one of his ears, and around his neck, indicating that this sculpture must have once been vibrantly painted. His soft facial features have been delicately molded producing the subtle folds of flesh under his eyes and around his mouth. Above all, this grand stucco head the Buddha is a testament to the awesome creative powers of Gandhara artists. - (PF.5607)   « Less

The ancient region of Gandhara was strategically situated at a confluence of trading paths along the Silk Route. Located in modern day nations of Afghanistan and Pakistan,  More »

The ancient region of Gandhara was strategically situated at a confluence of trading paths along the Silk Route. Located in modern day nations of Afghanistan and Pakistan, this area also had access routes to the Arabian Sea. The land of Gandhara was flooded in cultural influences ranging from Greece to China. After the conquests of Alexander the Great, the creation of Greco-Bactrian kingdoms, and the general Hellenization of the subcontinent, Western aesthetical tastes became prominent. Greek influence began to permeate into the arts and culture. After the fall of the Bactrians, the land was ruled by a combination of Scythians and Parthians until they in turn were pushed out by the nomadic Kushan tribe. Having migrated from western China, who settled in the region and went on to establish their own dynasty. The area flourished under the Kushan and their greatest king, Kanishka, who traditionally given credit for further spreading the philosophies of Buddhism throughout central Asia and into China. This period is viewed as the most important era in the early history of Buddhism. Some of the earliest representations of the Buddha in his human form date to the Kushan era, as do the first depictions of Bodhisattvas. Gandharan sculptors based their images of the Buddha on Greco-Roman models, depicting Him as a stocky and youthful Apollo, complete with stretched earlobes and loose monastic robes similar to a Roman toga. The extraordinary artistic creations of Gandhara reveal an ancient link between the East and West. In the Buddhist religion, Bodhisattvas are souls who have attained enlightenment and no longer need to reincarnate, but forsake nirvana and choose to come back in order to alleviate the suffering of others. They act as mediators on behalf of mankind to historical or Primordial Buddhas. Bodhisattvas are traditionally depicted dressed in royal attire, festoned with jewelry and a crowns featuring an image of one of the Primordial Buddha, revealing their cosmic lineage. One of the most popular Bodhisattvas, Avalokitesvara is worshiped throughout the Buddhist world. He is first mentioned in the Lotus Sutra, which explains his flower attribute. Although he is known by many names -- Chenrezi in Tibet, Lokesvara in Nepal, Kannon in Japan, Guanyin in China -- he is universally loved for his benevolence towards all human beings. As the guiding deity of the Gelukpa monastic order, the Dalai Lama is considered to be an emanation of this Bodhisattva. This magnificent Gandharan bronze sculpture of Avalokitesvara must be one of the earliest representations of this most beloved Bodhisattva. He sits high upon a lotus throne, holding the palm of his right hand in the air and an object that may be a conch shell in his right hand. He wears a simple monastic robe that clings to his legs. Incised lines has been added to suggest the folds of the cloth. Despite his humble attire, he is adorned with a beaded necklace, various armbands and bracelets, and an elaborate crown. The overall aesthetics of this work do not vary significantly from similar sculptures produced in Tibet and Nepal over a thousand years later, revealing a formal link between the art of Gandhara and later Buddhist styles. - (H.1090)   « Less