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SAM'S collection
Photo: Paul Macapia
Door
Photo: Paul Macapia

Door

Datelate 3rd century B.C. - early 3rd century A.D.
Label TextSymmetrical stone doors such as these were installed in tombs. The three main motifs on the doors are a bird, a fish, and an animal mask with a knocking ring. Similar tomb doors have been excavated from Shaanxi—which had a dragon in place of the fish—and from Luoyang, with a tiger featured on an example found there. Although these variations are not consistent with the four directional animals, the motifs probably symbolized agents that facilitated the deceased’s journey in his/her afterlife.
Object number45.37.1
ProvenanceYamanaka & Co., Inc, United States, to 1942; [liquidation sale by Alien Property Custodian, Yamanaka & Co., Inc., 1943, lot 395]; [Jan W.A. Kleijkamp]; purchased from Kleijkamp by Seattle Art Museum, 1945
Photo CreditPhoto: Paul Macapia
Credit LineEugene Fuller Memorial Collection
Dimensions49 x 21 3/4 x 2 in. (124.46 x 55.25 x 5.08 cm)
MediumStone
Door
Chinese
late 3rd century B.C.–early 3rd century A.D.
Object number: 45.37.2
Stone fragment with twelve buddhas
Chinese
6th - early 7th century
Object number: 95.76
Stone relief fragment;Buddha, Bodhisattvas, Apsaras
Chinese
late 5th - early 6th century
Object number: 46.224
Architectural detail; Brahma
Indian
ca. 1000
Object number: 58.48
Relief - Flying celestial swordsmen (gandharvas)
Indian
ca. 1000
Object number: 58.49
Base for a small stupa
Indian
9th-10th century
Object number: 44.59
Elephant, Lion, Embroidered Robe
Indian
9th-10th century
Object number: 44.61
Votive stupe base frag.; 2 Buddha figures
Indian
8th - 9th century
Object number: 55.167
Relief:  Dancer and 2 Musicians
Indian
11th century
Object number: 51.52
Relief - Kubera
Indian
12th century
Object number: 62.39
Melanesian
Object number: 81.17.1495