Guanyin, otherwise known as the Iron Goddess. (One of our favorite teas bears her name.)
Fish drum.
It's striking how many Buddhist sculptures depict serenity and contentment. This is very different from most western religious art.
I didn't get the ID info on this next piece. Very low relief stone.
Fierce beast, with flowers.
The largest of the Chinese objects are housed in a huge round space topped by a dome.
Right under the dome we have a very large crystal ball. The windows under the dome are reflected twice in/on the ball, and again on the plexiglass box the ball lives in.
Looking back toward the fish drum.
Something else that was looted.........
They say it's a lion, but it looks more like a pug to me. This must be 8' tall. The things holding the velvet rope are the "usual height" -- 3'?
If I understand how cloisonné is done, I don't understand how they can do it on a vertical surface. This is by far the largest cloisonné object I've ever seen.
Ok, lions aren't indigenous to China, but they have them in India. I do not believe no one in China had ever seen a lion. And -- they do have tigers in China. I can believe they'd rather make up their own "lion," but I do not believe they'd never seen a big cat.
We bought food in the museum, and ate it in a nice bright space that looks back toward the old part of the museum. (The windows, unfortunately, were covered with water spots, making it hard to see details on the building, especially at the top....)
I believe that round part is the top of the very large Chinese room we visited above.
I like the colors and texture........
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