Ashmolean Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

Maritime trade between India and Southeast Asia began at an early date. As Indian merchants settled in many parts of this widespread region they brought with them the practice of Buddhism and Hinduism. Local ruling dynasties both adopted these religions and began to patronise Indian styles of temple architecture and sculpture. Indian models were skilfully assimilated by their artists and reinterpreted in powerful and elegant styles of their own, reflecting local physical types and costume.

Great surges in building activity, going far beyond Indian precedents, produced awe-inspiring temple complexes such as Borobudur in Java (AD 800) and Angkor in Cambodia (1150). Strong cultural influences from China were also reflected in the production of Chinese-style glazed ceramics in several regions.

Dongson bronzes

Khmer sculpture

Thai sculpture

Burma

Early Java

Java and Sumatra

Terracotta figurines from the Majapahit Kingdom, eastern Java, 1300-1500

Southeast Asia: ceramics, terracottas and bronzes

Southeast Asia: ceramics

Small porcelain vessels from the Hoi An shipwreck, Vietnam, about 1450-1500

Freestanding sculpture