China and South Asia

The long gallery contains distinct Chinese and South Asian displays. Bronze, jade, lacquer, ceramics and painting appear in the Chinese material. Indus seals, Mughal works and sculptures of deities belong to the South Asian displays. Shiva Nataraja provides one close focus. The Chola bronze shows Shiva dancing within a ring of flames, holding a drum and fire. The hands, raised leg and surrounding circle turn a religious image into a figure full of movement. Tara sculpture and other works offer different forms of sacred presence. Choose a material or a small group of objects to begin. Comparing how a figure is cast in bronze with the decoration of a ceramic vessel can make this large room more manageable. The gallery brings many periods together, so follow the place and date attached to each group.