Head of Buddha

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This unfired head is related to fifth- to seventh-century clay sculpture from Afghanistan, especially in the treatment of the eyebrows and in the hairstyle of three rows of curls. The site of Rawak comprises a cruciform stupa (relic mound) based on architecture established in Afghanistan and Gandhara; the enclosing wall of this sacred precinct was embellished with hundreds of clay Buddhas and bodhisattvas such as this one.

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