Seated Ganesha

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Much worn from ritual ablutions, this small figure of Ganesha was probably used in a personal shrine. The god’s stepped pedestal, lotus throne, and tripartite crown are all attributes of images created in Kashmir. This region was an early center for the worship of Shiva, so it is not surprising that his corpulent son would also be venerated there.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

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.

Metropolitan Museum of Art