The Asian Art Museum in San Francisco is probably one of the largest museums in the U.S. that displays fine pieces of art treasures dating back 6,000 years of Asian culture. The museum opened in 1966 as a wing of the M.H. de Young Memorial Museum in San Francisco. The Asian museum in San Francisco shared the premises with the de Young Museum till 2003 when it moved into the San Francisco city library building located opposite the Civic Center.
Home to nearly 15,000 Asian pieces of art and culture, the Museum offers 40,000 sq. feet of aesthetically designed space, vaulted ceilings, travertine finishes, skylights, period light fixtures et al. Breathtaking pieces of art in bronze, ceramic and jade leave the visitors spellbound. The Asian art museum in San Francisco hosts many an interactive program and conducts live demonstration of different art forms. Group tours and educational school programs are arranged.
The Asian museum of San Francisco holds a sizeable collection donated by Chicago industrialist Avery Brundage - a gilt bronze Buddha dating 338 being the most prominent among them. There are many artifacts that trace the growth and spread of Buddhism in the region, India, Cambodia, Thailand, Burma, Laos, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia.
Bronze sculptures dating back to the Angkot Wat, interesting pieces of Sikh art as well as temple sculptures, bronze images and wood carvings that date back to the ancient Hindu temples throw light on various facets of Asian history. Intricately embroidered textiles, ancient stone and bronze sculptures from India, delicate ceramics and terracotta work from China also occupy pride of place in the Asian museum. Do not miss the lacquers and objects made of cloisonn?, ivory, bamboo, glass and horn.
