Southeast Asia after 1800 (Gallery 11)

Southeast Asian artists working in a diverse spectrum of traditions made the artworks in Gallery 11 sometime over the last two hundred years. Most of the objects from mainland Southeast Asia reflect the Buddhist beliefs of the region’s inhabitants, while many of those from island Southeast Asia may relate to the Muslim, Christian, and Hindu cultures of the region. Artworks could have both secular and religious significance. Rod puppets from Java were used in entertainment, but the puppeteers were considered to have priestlike status.