ASIAN COLLECTION

The Appleton Museum of Art contains a collection that is known for its diversity, and the selection of Asian works is no exception. The museum holds religious and secular works from China, India, Japan, Tibet, and Southeast Asia. Hindu art is depicted by several fine Indian sculptures of the 10th to 12th centuries. Buddhist art is represented by Indian, Tibetan, Thai, and Burmese sculpture and textiles. The Chinese works feature a number of good ceramic pieces. A fascinating area of the Asian collection is devoted to the art of Japan. The museum's Japanese collection includes a variety of netsukes, a cast bronze sculpture of a samurai, examples of export ceramics, and an elegant palanquin.

Central Indian pink sandstone stele of Uma-Mahesvara
31 1/4 X 20 3/4, sandstone
Gift of Arthur I. Appleton
An intimate image of Shiva and his consort Parvati, also known as Mahesvara and Uma, is referred to as an Uma-Mahesvara. The couple sits atop a bull, which refers to Shiva, and a lion, which refers to Parvati. Shiva is a major Hindu god who is characterized by a series of paradoxical traits. He is both a destroyer and a restorer; he is benevolent yet wrathful; and he is worshipped for his ascetic qualities even though he is interested in sensual pleasures. Parvati possesses many of Shiva’s most terrifying aspects and is believed to be the true power behind him. To the couple’s lower right is their son, Ganesh. In order to guarantee a private bath, Parvati created Ganesh from the dirt rubbed from her body and placed him on guard outside the door to her bath. Unaware of Ganesh’s identity, Shiva ordered his attendants to kill him. The result was the decapitation of Ganesh. To soothe Parvati, Shiva gave Ganesh the first head he saw --- that of an elephant. Completing this scene on the couple’s lower left, is their son Karttikeya, God of War.