Seated Female Ascetic

Seated Female Ascetic

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Small bronze sculptures of women and children were produced in some number during the Majapahit period. The function of these objects remains unclear. They may have been used as dolls, or as substitutes for certain individuals in magical rituals or other ceremonies. Her thin arms and shaved head suggest that this figure may represent an ascetic. She is seated with left leg folded beneath her, and wears a sarong, serpentine armlets, and a necklace with leaf-shaped pendants and bands around her wrists and ankles. She has a serene expression, heavy-lidded downcast eyes, and prominent arched eyebrows.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

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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.