The Akha people of Thailand, Myanmar (Burma), Laos, Vietnam, and Yunnan, China, where they originated, are known for their intricate traditional clothing and ornaments. Women's headdresses are perhaps the most elaborate.... read more
With more than two million objects in the Maxwell Museum collections, there a lot of stories to tell. Learn some of them here.
Akha headdress (MMA 75.50.17)
Posted on: Tuesday, June 1, 2021
The Akha people of Thailand, Myanmar (Burma), Laos, Vietnam, and Yunnan, China, where they originated, are known for their intricate traditional clothing and ornaments. Women's headdresses are perhaps the most elaborate.... read more
Ming dynasty porcelain fragment, San Gabriel de Yunque (MMA 68.43.64)
Posted on: Monday, May 24, 2021
During Asian and Pacific American Heritage Month, we feature objects from Asia and the Pacific in the Maxwell's collections.
This late Ming dynasty (AD1368-1644) blue-and-white porcelain sherd is a fragment of a vessel that made a long... read more
Tile fragments from Albuqquerque's New Chinatown Restaurant
Posted on: Monday, May 17, 2021
During Asian and Pacific American Heritage Month, we feature objects from Asia and the Pacific in the Maxwell's collections.
These green glazed tile fragments were part of the architectural decorations at the popular New Chinatown... read more
Māori Kete Baskets
Posted on: Monday, May 10, 2021
During Asian and Pacific American Heritage Month, we feature objects from Asia and the Pacific in the Maxwell's collections.
Kete are traditional carrying baskets woven from plant materials.... read more
Detail of the makara head on the bell of Tibetan Buddhist kangling (MMA 68.59.91)
Posted on: Monday, May 3, 2021
During Asian and Pacific American Heritage Month, we feature objects from Asia and the Pacific n the Maxwell's collections.
This brass and silver horn or trumpet, known as a kangling or rkang‐gling, was made in India for the Tibetan... read more
Polychrome bowl by Robert Tenorio of Kewa Pueblo (Santo Domingo), ca. 1978.
Posted on: Monday, April 26, 2021
This polychrome decorated ceramic bowl in the shape of a basket has an arched handle and two pouring spouts. It is decorated with geometric, floral, and animal designs on a white slip background, creating a striking contrast to the bowl’s red... read more
Turtle figurine by Frances P. Torivio
Posted on: Monday, April 19, 2021
This ceramic figurine of a small turtle mounted on the back of a larger turtle is decorated with black-on-white geometric motifs was made by Frances P. Torivio (1905-2001) of Acoma Pueblo.
Frances (also named Sra-Ma-Tyai or Singing Child)... read more
Klagetoh weaving by Esther Billie (MMA 64.84.2)
Posted on: Monday, April 12, 2021
This Klagetoh Diné (Navajo) rug was woven by Esther Billie between 1920 and 1940. Klagetoh is a regional style named after Klagetoh, Arizona.
Klagetoh rugs are related to the popular Ganado style, and both are from the Hubbell Revival... read more
Ceramic duck figurine by Rowena Him
Posted on: Monday, April 5, 2021
This polychrome duck effigy vessel was created by Rowena Him of Zuni (A:shiwi) Pueblo in the 1980s. It was displayed at the 1984 Maxwell Museum exhibition "From the Center Place: Contemporary Zuni Pottery and Its Makers."
The Zuni peoples... read more
Bracelet by Archie Apachito (MMA 89.43.1)
Posted on: Monday, March 29, 2021
This impressive sterling silver bracelet was created by Diné artisan Archie Apachito ca. 1980 using inset turquoise from Los Cerillos, New Mexico. While Navajo peoples have used turquoise and silver for many decades, silver working was not a part... read more