Tibet & Nepal

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The Tibet and Nepal Gallery features Himalayan art associated with Buddhism and Hinduism—paintings on cloth, sculptures made of bronze, stone, and wood, and ritual objects created from a variety of materials. Sometimes, deities appear as fantastic humans with multiple limbs, like the sculpture of a four-armed Manjushri and Prajna. In contrast, the sand mandala shows deities as symbolic characters, not as figures. The artistic traditions of the Himalayas have spread to China, Mongolia, and elsewhere. Objects from Tibet, Nepal, and other Himalayan countries are also exhibited in the Buddhist Art Gallery.

Objects Shiva and Parvati Nepal 900s-1000s limestone Manjushri and Prajna Nepal, 1571 gilt bronze semi-precious stones Mahakala Tibet, 1700s brass Thunderbolt with Bell and Case Tibet, 1700s-1800s gilt bronze, silver alloy, grass Hayagriva Mandala Seraje Monks 1996 sand with mineral pigments Padmasambhava Tibet, 1400s-1500s bronze with silver copper, and turquoise inlay Bhairava Nepal, 1600s polychromed wood Two Arhats with Hvashang Tibet, late 1700s color, gold on cloth Lamp with Devotees Nepal, 1821 brass Return to top