Art of Asia Acquired by North American Museums, 2009–2010

This section is devoted to works of Asian art recently acquired by public collections in the United States and Canada. These works are reproduced in order to illustrate general trends of acquisition, as well as to present selected objects of outstanding interest; the dating, provenance, and descriptions are those supplied by the owners. Arranged alphabetically by name of museum, this list includes the names of senior curators of staff members responsible for Asian collections.

The Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

Janice Katz, Curator for Asian Art

1. Artist unknown. Tantric Deities Hevajra and Nairatmya in Ritual Embrace (yab-yum). Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. ca. 1600. Gilt bronze with pigments; 50.2 × 33.0 × 17.9 cm. The Art Institute of Chicago, 2010.574. Alsdorf Foundation.

2. Artist unknown. Hen. Japan. 6th c. Earthenware; 35 × 35.8 × 15 cm. The Art Institute of Chicago, 2010.296. Purchased with funds provided by the Weston Foundation; President’s Exhibition and Acquisition Fund.

Asian Art Museum of San Francisco

San Francisco, California

Forrest McGill, Chief Curator

Michael Knight, Curator of Chinese Art

Cheeyun Kwon, Curator of Korean Art

Qamar Adamjee, Assistant Curator of South Asian Art

Natasha Reichle, Assistant Curator of Southeast Asian Art

Melissa Rinne, Associate Curator of Japanese Art

3. Fu Shan (1606–1684). Collection of poetry drafts in various scripts. China. Late Ming (1368–1644) to early Qing (1644–1911) dynasties. 1606–1684. Handscroll; ink on paper; image: 21.9 × 623.6 cm; overall: 27 cm. Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, 2009.19. The Yeh Family Collection.

4. Artist unknown. The Hindu deity Vishnu and the demon king Ravana riding mythical birds. Indonesia, North Bali. 1850–1900. Colors and gold on wood; 2010.18.1: 96.5 × 49.5 × 38.1 cm; 2010.18.2: 96.5 × 46.4 × 45.7 cm. Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, 2010.18.1-.2. Acquisition made possible by the Connoisseurs’ Council and the estate of K. Hart Smith.

5. Artist unknown. Table. Korea. Joseon dynasty (1392–1910). Ca. 1800–1900. Lacquered wood inlaid with brass wire, mother-of-pearl, and ray skin; 25.4 × 69.9 cm. Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, 2009.17. Acquisition made possible by Korean Art and Culture Committee.

6. Artist unknown. Ceremonial bowl with Zoroastrian themes. Burma. 1875. Silver alloy with zinc and copper; 20.3 × 34.3 cm. Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, 2009.25. Acquisition made possible by the Zarthosti Anjuman of Northern California, Rati Forbes, Betty N. Alberts, and members of the board of the Society for Asian Art in honor of Past President Nazneen Spliedt.

Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, University of California

Berkeley, California

Julia M. White, Senior Curator for Asian Art

7. Zhang Daqian. Landscape in the Manner of Wang Meng. China. Modern. 1934. Hanging scroll; ink and colors on paper; 134.6 × 50.8 cm. Berkeley Art Museum, 2010.46. Gift of James Cahill.

8. Artist unknown. Jia. China. Shang dynasty. 13th–11th c. bce. Cast bronze; 26 × 19.7 cm. Berkeley Art Museum, 2010.55.1. Gift of Leslie Wang and Anthony Wells.

Denver Art Museum

Denver, Colorado

Ronald Y. Otsuka, Dr. Joseph de Heer Curator of Asian Art

9. Wang Duo (1592–1652). Calligraphy. China. Ming dynasty (1368–1644). 1640. Hanging scroll; ink on silk; 217.2 × 51.8 cm. Denver Art Museum, 2009.459. Gift of Polly and Mark Addison.

10. Artist unknown. Head of Buddha. India or Pakistan. Gandharan, 1st c. bc–ad 7th c. 3rd c. Carved stone; schist; 26 × 15.2 cm. Denver...