Wednesday, December 24, 2014

I Was Stunned, Looking At These Great Works!

.

We went to this Asian Art museum in San Francisco (US) last month.  My son and grand niece were insisting  us to see this museum.  And thank god, we did!    This museum has got artifacts from the B.C. era., from Arabian countries, China, Tibet, Japan, Turkey and India.  Let me first post  a couple of the best Buddhist sculptures, I admired there and still remains in my mind.

I clicked this sculpture in different angles.  This is called the sculpture of Guhyasamaja embracing Sparshavajra! 

This is the best bronze sculpture, I have ever seen in my life!

This sculpture was the best.  Click on the picture and notice the intricate carving...hands, fingers, ornaments...
Another angle!
This is another sculpture but I think the subject of the sculpture is the same as of the above! I love the fingers, especially, here! Are they mudras? Can anyone tell me a bit more about this sculpture please?  I am not familiar with this sect of Buddhism. 

Notice the fingers, ornaments, the folds in the clothes....incredible! Three faces! This is a different one. 

I don't know much about this Buddhist deity.  So, I took the picture of the detailed description of the deity. It was inside a glass case! We were asked not to use flash.  And a staff was watching people all the time.  I was a bit nervous.  Still, the pictures of the deity are clear I think.  
I should have centred it properly:( The II page is here! Click on the pictures for a stunning view!)

This link gives a clear photo and details of the description clearly!

I loved the sculpture of our Hindu God, Vishnu also. A sculpture of Parvathi also was there.  But it was not as beautiful as this:

Black stone sculpture of Lord Vishnu.  Notice the intricate design here too! Click on the picture pl. The facial features are very sharp. I think we have seen this type of sculpture at Beluru, Karnataka.  This one is also from Karnataka, India.

Another angle! It looks so beautiful!

Click on the picture to read clearly pl.

This link has got more details of the museum. Actually 3-4 hours' time is not enough to view this museum.  We saw Ganesha sculptures of different types.  But Buddha's were prominent!

Please visit this museum to see treasures of our country and our neighbouring countries when you visit San Francisco, U.S. The atmosphere is very serene inside this museum.  This will stay in my memory, always.

.

22 comments:

  1. hellooooooooo you are in USA.. why did you not stop by in UK on the way up..

    and those are lovely pieces of art ..

    How are you doing long time no see and hear ..

    Bikram's

    ReplyDelete
  2. BIKRAM: I was back, a month back!

    Thank you, Bikram!

    I am doing fine. I commented in your latest post too, remember?!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Good you had a pleasing visit to mueseum.The idols look beautiful.I have never been to this part of US

    ReplyDelete
  4. Amazing collection of exquisite bronze and stone statues.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Beautiful collection Sandhya!
    You have also captured them well.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Mami, thank you for sharing the info and pic of Guhyasamaja embracing Sparshavajra! So beautiful...

    ReplyDelete
  7. K.PARTHASARATHY: I never expected it to be so interesting! As soon as we entered on lady guide took us to the Indian area and explained about Ganesha and Shiva. They were also good. Then she went off. Then we roamed and found these treasures. I have never heard this line of Buddhism! New to me!


    RAMAKRISHNAN RAMANATHAN: Many more were there! We didn't spare much time there. We should have done it! Wrong planning because we never expected it to be so good.


    RAMA ANANTH: Thank you, Rama!


    SHARU: You should have seen my face when I saw this sculpture. I was stunned! So much intricate work. We can go on seeing this, inch by inch.




    ReplyDelete
  8. The idol in the first few photos looks like a Hindu God than a Buddhist sculpture! Excellent carvings, wonder how much time and effort the artisans put fourth. I think, if we visit Karnataka, we'll see a lot of sculptures like the Vishnu shown in your photos.

    Destination Infinity

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hello Sandhya, you made some beautiful pictures again and gave interesting comment. Did you visit your son in USA? and were Kartik coming as well?? Hope to see you again in Chennai, although it may take a while.
    Merry Christmas (in case you celebrate it as well). greetings, Toby

    ReplyDelete
  10. DESTINATION INFINITY: It is written there that this is a Buddhist sculpture. Otherwise we would have thought this as a Hindu one.

    I have seen this type of stone carvings at Beluru. We can admire hundreds of images of this type there.


    TOBY: Merry Christmas to you too, Toby!

    Yes, we had been to the US for a month. It is long time since you came here. Welcome to our house, Toby, whenever you come!


    LOGIC: Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  11. The details on both the sculptures of bronze and black stone are fabulous!! Truly impressive with the work on the Guhyasamaja.

    I think the place is well lit, at least with these sculptures to get great shots in lack of flash!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love going to the museum too! You see a lot of beautiful, historical and mystical things there. Glad you went. These are really worth sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I havent seen a more intricate sculpture than the first one! The details and the concept!!
    New to your blog. :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. RACHNA: Thank you, Rachna!


    JEEVAN: I feel that the flash might reflect on the glass case and the sculpture might not be visible clearly. Thank god, the staff told me that. Another reason, the heat of the flash might affect the environment of the room with so many sensitive displays. Thank you, Jeevan!


    SUPERLUX: Welcome to my space, Superlux. Thanks for the comment!


    RED HANDED: Welcome to my space, Red! Yes, it is too good!

    Thanks for commenting!

    ReplyDelete
  15. wonderful, I am pinning it, and trying to figure a way to share it.

    ReplyDelete
  16. The sculptures are really beautiful. I missed seeing this one. I went to the SFMOMA.

    ReplyDelete
  17. SHAIL: Many more interesting sculptures were there. I selected the best ones I liked and posted.

    Nobody told about SFMOMA and our time was tight. Maybe next time!

    ReplyDelete
  18. SHARMILA RAO: Welcome to my space, Sharmila. Thank you, for the comment!


    ONKAR: THANK YOU, Onkar!

    ReplyDelete

Please do not spam me!