Corfu Museum of Asian Art

Nepal, Tibet & SE Asian

Art Collection

General description

The art of Southeast Asia, with works from the Hatzivassiliou collection comes from India, Gandhara, Siam, Cambodia, Nepal and Tibet. The exhibits are religious figurines of stone, bronze, gold plated brass with precious stones and wood, and painted ceremonial flags. They trace the birth of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism in India and the subsequent spread of Buddhism into the surrounding areas. Additionally, the influence of Hellenistic art in the development of early Buddhist iconography and sculpture is examined.

The art of Southeast Asia is exhibited in the west wing of the first floor of the Museum.

History

Nepal, Tibet & SE Asian Art Collection | Museum of Asian Art Corfu

Thematic units

The art of India

The first signs of human presence in India date back to the prehistoric years. The first systematically organised settlements – also known as “Indus Valley Civilisation” or “Harappa Culture”- appeared along the Indus River Valley from 3000 to 1800 BC.

The art of Himalayas

The most difficult survival on the precipitous Himalayas favoured the development in Nepal and Tibet of a powerful popular faith in animistic-shamanistic beliefs that deify and demonify natural phenomena.

The art of Cambodia

Cambodia has been the most significant cultural centre of Southeast Asia from the 9th until the 13th century AD. During the Khmer Empire, it extended from its current borders until South Vietnam, Laos and Central Thailand.

The art of Siam

Siam (Thailand) has been one of the most significant centres for the Buddhist religion. The Theravada Buddhism spread to Siam from India and there it was enriched by the local religion, which was based in the deification of nature and the worship of the ancestors.

The art of Gandhara

The two countries met some 2,300 years, in 326 BC, when Alexander the Great led his troops all the way through to Indus River. From 280 BC on, Greek kingdoms were created in northern Punjab by Bactrian Greeks while in 164-150 BC

Masterpieces of SE Asian Art Collection

Ajitnath or the 2nd Tirthankara
Nepal, Tibet & SE Asian Art Collection | Museum of Asian Art Corfu
His symbol is the elephant. Bronze. 17th -19th c.AD. India
Buddha on a peacock
Nepal, Tibet & SE Asian Art Collection | Museum of Asian Art Corfu
Bronze. 17th cent. AD. Bengal.
Goddess from an Hindu temple exterior décor
Nepal, Tibet & SE Asian Art Collection | Museum of Asian Art Corfu
Stone. 11th cent. AD. India.
Hindu fretwork of erotic content from parading chariot
Nepal, Tibet & SE Asian Art Collection | Museum of Asian Art Corfu
17th -18th cent. AD. Southern India.
Bird
Nepal, Tibet & SE Asian Art Collection | Museum of Asian Art Corfu
Bronze. 17th -19th c. AD. India.
Krishna
Nepal, Tibet & SE Asian Art Collection | Museum of Asian Art Corfu
Bronze. 17th cent. AD. Bengal.
Buddha
Nepal, Tibet & SE Asian Art Collection | Museum of Asian Art Corfu
Bronze. 17th cent. AD. Bengal.
The goddess Hariti
Nepal, Tibet & SE Asian Art Collection | Museum of Asian Art Corfu
Influence of goddess Tyche Hellenistic figures. Grey schist. 1st – 2nd cent. AD. Peshawar.
Buddha having dinner with monks
Nepal, Tibet & SE Asian Art Collection | Museum of Asian Art Corfu
Influence of goddess Tyche Hellenistic figures. Grey schist. 1st – 2nd cent. AD. Peshawar.
Standing Buddha
Nepal, Tibet & SE Asian Art Collection | Museum of Asian Art Corfu
Influence of goddess Tyche Hellenistic figures. Grey schist. 1st – 2nd cent. AD. Peshawar.
Buddha Head
Nepal, Tibet & SE Asian Art Collection | Museum of Asian Art Corfu
Guilt bronze. Ayuthaya style. 16th century AD. Siam.
Buddha Head
Nepal, Tibet & SE Asian Art Collection | Museum of Asian Art Corfu
Βronze. Sukothai style.13th century AD. Siam.
Buddha Head
Nepal, Tibet & SE Asian Art Collection | Museum of Asian Art Corfu
Khmer tribe anatomical features. Stone. Cambodia. Angkor Period. 12th-13th century AD.
Buddha Head
Nepal, Tibet & SE Asian Art Collection | Museum of Asian Art Corfu
Khmer tribe anatomical features. Stone. Cambodia. Angkor Period. 12th-13th century AD.
Sakyamuni
Buddha
Nepal, Tibet & SE Asian Art Collection | Museum of Asian Art Corfu
Gilded bronze & colour. 18th cent. AD. Nepal.
Pilgrims and stupa on a horse-driven platform
Nepal, Tibet & SE Asian Art Collection | Museum of Asian Art Corfu
Gilded bronze. 17th cent. AD. Nepal.
Logo | Museum of Asian Art Corfu

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