Please note: Special public hours – 10 AM to 5 PM – on Thursday, May 9
Please note: Special public hours – 10 AM to 5 PM – on Thursday, May 9
Nov 12, 2014
Discover one-of-a-kind and handcrafted objects at the Asian Art Museum store.
Download a PDF copy of this Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 12, 2014— Following your visit to the galleries, complete your holiday shopping at the Asian Art Museum store. Explore the wide selection of jewelry, paintings, books and toys, with many items handcrafted from local and international artisans.
To take home a meaningful memory of your museum visit, the museum store focuses on exhibition-specific merchandise to expand upon what is seen in the galleries. This holiday season, the store’s merchandise features delectable Arabian treats, exquisite accessories and entertaining books and games, inspired by the museum’s current special exhibition, Roads of Arabia: Archaeology and History of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The exhibition brings to light the Arabian Peninsula’s importance in early human history; the impact of the incense trade on ancient Arabia; the rise of Islam and the development of Islamic pilgrimage roads; and the formation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
All purchases support the museum’s educational programs and exhibitions as well as the individual artists and their communities. The store is open during regular museum hours and does not require paid admission. Come and view some of these gift ideas in the museum store or online at http://store.asianart.org/.
Kids’ Toys
Plush rhino: The Asian Art Museum’s ever-popular bronze rhino is available in a plush version, suitable for admirers ages 5 and up. $25
Architectural blocks: With this set of blocks your children can take their imagination on a trip to Japan in the comfort of their own living room. Made of beechwood, these 63 blocks are safe for ages 6 and up. $50
Treats
Yemeni spiced coffee: With a warm, spicy kick and a sweet, chai-like taste, this coffee possesses a complex profile with notes of ginger, cinnamon and Moroccan saffron. Many find that after one sip they are hooked—we think you will be too! Size: 4oz. $12
Rumi tree olive oil: Certified organic, extra virgin and cold pressed, this olive oil comes from sustainably farmed olives in the West Bank areas of Jenin, Nablus, Salfit and Ramallah. The Rumi tree has been cultivated in Palestine since the Roman Empire; many are hundreds of years old and still bearing fruit. Size: 17 oz. $18
Olive tapenade: Certified organic Nabali green olives, pickled capers, olive oil, crushed mustard seeds, and lemon juice are combined with a touch of sea salt to create this olive tapenade. Size: 6.3 oz. $9
Accessories & Decorations
Japanese wooden animals: Japanese group T-Lab designed 18 endearing animal figures, each made of soft silk wood and hand-carved. $18 each
Imperial brocade bags: Inspired by the emperor’s robes in the Qing dynasty, this collection of coin purses, glass cases, handbags and totes offers a colorful and stylish accessory for fans of Chinese art. $10–$75
Indian scarves: Richly hued scarves in hand-woven natural silk with metallic zari threads are available in a variety of colors and patterns. $45
Indian scarves by Neeru Kumar: Artist Neeru Kumar creates this line of scarves combining traditional techniques and Indian materials with experimentation in design. Made with sustainable and environmentally friendly practices, her work is sold internationally and is now available at the Asian Art Museum store. $95–$195
Mother-of-pearl-inlaid boxes: The tradition of inlaid mother-of-pearl design dates back thousands of years in Iraq, and the tradition still holds. These boxes are handmade in the Khan al Khalili market in Egypt. $15–$350
Perfume bottles: The first perfume maker of record was an Egyptian female chemist named Tapputi, who is described in a Mesopotamian cuneiform tablet from the 2nd millennium BCE as having used flowers, spices, calamus and myrrh to create perfumes, all of which were commonly traded along the incense routes. Six bottle designs are available in various colors. $5-$38
Small olive wood bowl: This bowl is hand-carved by artisans from the Holy Land Handicraft Cooperative, a certified fair trade cooperative in Palestine. $20
Books & Games
Backgammon & chess set: Evidence of backgammon-like games has appeared in many ancient cultural sites along the incense trade routes, including China, India, Persia, Sumer (Iraq), Egypt, Greece, and Turkey. These backgammon sets are made in Syria using a centuries-old technique of wood inlay. Each piece, from more than six types of tree, is carefully carved to form intricate patterns. Due to the ongoing conflict in Syria the supply of these sets is very limited. Set contains the pieces to play backgammon and chess. Small, $150; Large, $295
Shahnameh: Written more than 1,000 years ago to preserve Persian collective memory, the Shahnameh was originally composed in couplets. This new translation and adaptation by Ahmad Sadri retells the tales of magical birds, superhuman heroes, and centuries-long battles in prose format. Hamid Rahmanian’s spectacular 500 full-color illustrations were created from elements culled from thousands of illuminated manuscripts, lithographs and paintings dating from the 13th through 19th centuries; each panel becomes a new work of art, an exquisite collage of traditional forms. $100
Membership
The Rhino Club: Inspired by the museum’s beloved Chinese bronze rhinoceros, the Asian Art Museum’s new Rhino Club is just for kids! Rhino Club members receive free admission for all kids 18 and below; an Explorers’ Backpack, filled with activity guides; a Kid’s Passport, which gets stamped each visit; and more. Add Rhino Club to any membership level. $50
Asian Art Museum Gift Membership: This holiday season, give a gift that keeps on giving—an Asian Art Museum membership. Recipients will enjoy a year of benefits, including unlimited free admission and a 10 percent discount in the museum’s store. Gift memberships at any level are available for purchase online
The Asian Art Museum–Chong-Moon Lee Center for Asian Art and Culture is one of San Francisco’s premier arts institutions and home to a world-renowned collection of more than 18,000 Asian art treasures spanning 6,000 years of history. Through rich art experiences, centered on historic and contemporary artworks, the Asian Art Museum unlocks the past for visitors, bringing it to life while serving as a catalyst for new art, new creativity and new thinking.
Information: 415.581.3500 or www.asianart.org
Location: 200 Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
Hours: The museum is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 10 AM to 5 PM, with extended spring and summer evening hours on Thursdays until 9 PM. Closed Mondays, as well as New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
General Admission: FREE for museum members, $15 for adults, $10 for seniors (65+), college students with ID, and youths (13–17). FREE for children under 12 and SFUSD students with ID. General admission on Thursdays after 5 PM is $5 for all visitors (except those under 12, SFUSD students, and museum members, who are always admitted FREE). General admission is FREE to all on Target First Free Sundays (the first Sunday of every month). A surcharge may apply for admission to special exhibitions.
Access: The Asian Art Museum is wheelchair accessible. For more information regarding access: 415.581.3598; TDD: 415.861.2035.
###
