Collections

Buddhist artefacts in the Stein Collection

The Far Eastern Section at the V&A acts as custodian for nearly 700 objects (of which around 600 are textile fragments) which were retrieved in the chain of abandoned oasis settlements along the Silk Road. The entire area now falls within the boundaries of the People's Republic of China in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The Stein collection comprises a wide variety of different techniques and materials, and embraces examples of domestic textiles to sacral silk. Not all is Buddhist votive material - a great part would have been for everyday use. The material from Dunhuang, or the Caves of the Thousand Buddhas, were probably all for use in Buddhist ceremonies and devotions, so were the objects from Miran which date from 3 – 500AD. (Miran is not to be confused with Miran Fort which was a Tibetan soldier stronghold).

Many of these textile fragments are too slight and fragile for public display, but you can see them on the V&A website here. Choose 'search the collections' and then type 'Dunhuang' or 'Miran' in the search box to see the textiles from those sites. The objects include complete and fragmented banners, canopies and valances.

A few pieces collected by Stein are in the galleries: there is a banner in the Tsui Gallery (Gallery 44) and about 25 fragments on display in Gallery 98.

The V&A's Helen Persson will be publishing a book in 2007 with further information about the Stein material.

Many more non-textile artefacts collected by Stein from Dunhuang and elsewhere are held at the British Museum.

Highlights of the V&A's Buddhist displays chosen by the curators