Pillar Fragment with Dancing Apsaras

Pillar Fragment with Dancing Apsaras

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

These two dancers, on lotus flowers within an arch, are celestial goddesses (apsaras). Their high tiaras, enigmatic smiles, and outward-turned sampots (wrap-around skirts) are indicative of the Bayon style.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Pillar Fragment with Dancing ApsarasPillar Fragment with Dancing ApsarasPillar Fragment with Dancing ApsarasPillar Fragment with Dancing ApsarasPillar Fragment with Dancing Apsaras

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.