May 27, 2022

MoAW

presents

ALL UNDER HEAVEN

Earth, Heaven, and the Afterlife

Tianxia (天下) or, All Under Heaven is an ancient Chinese phrase defining the ideal of a perfect and harmonious empire in the eyes of the people.

This diverse collection of 50 Asian antiquities (3,600 BCE to the mid-1800 CE) is divided into three sections: Earthly possessions, objects used by the living, the temple icons of Buddha and Shiva (Heaven), and funerary goods, objects found in the tombs of the elite (the Afterlife). Representing China, Japan, Indonesia, and Southeast Asia, these artifacts are seen together for the first time as a comprehensive collection from the ancient world of Asia.

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This exhibition is made possible through generous gifts from Heather James Fine Art, Marlene and Bruce Kanter, Tim Walsh, Michael H. Healy, California Humanities, and The National Endowment for the Humanities.

Toraja Culture Ancestor Figure

Indonesia, 18th Century

Wood

A tau-tau is an effigy carved upon the death of a wealthy family member. In the past, these sculptures stood near the deceased during the long and elaborate funerals that sometimes lasted up to a week.

These effigies inspected the funeral festival grounds for approval; a favorable inspection resulted in the transition of the soul into the spirit realm. After the funeral, the tau-tau was taken to a rock cliff balcony where it was placed with other ancestor effigies to oversee the well-being of the village.

Singa

Sumatra

Batak People

Wood

Singa is the most important decorative element seen in the Batak Toba houses of Sumatra. The word singa comes from Sanskrit and means “lion.”

There are innumerable representations that depict the shape of the head and facial features, which is significant for two reasons. Firstly, the Toba people believe that it keeps misfortune, diseases, and evil influences from the house, and also, that they can release positive beneficial powers for the good of the inhabitants within.

Cosmetic Box

China, Han Dynasty (202 BC-220 AD)

Radiocarbon dated at 2127 – 2233 years old

Lacquer

An extensive and complex system of production for painted lacquer existed in imperial China. Its earliest flowering was in the late Warring States (476-221 BCE) and Han (206 BCE-220 CE) periods. The state of Chu produced finely made, painted lacquerware in state-sponsored factories dedicated to the manufacture of household items for use by the nobility.

A cosmetic box of this stunning quality of manufacture and design was a highly prized item in an upper-class Han-period household. A box with similar appliqued decoration amid scrolling designs can be seen in the British Museum.

This lacquered box was made using the dry lacquer technique. First, a core of wood was formed and covered in hemp and then with many layers of lacquer, each of which had to dry before the next could be painted on. When the object was finished it was possible to strip away the original core so that the finished item would be incredibly light and also impervious to the insects which might have attacked a wooden interior.

Blackware Vessels and Chalice

Thailand, 3600 - 1000 BCE

Ban Chiang Culture

Blackware Pottery

Relatively unknown, Thailand is on the map as a place of early prehistoric development. These rock shelter cave dwellers were hunter-gatherers living in prehistoric settlements about 5600 years ago.

A much-researched site is the Ban Chiang area, close to Udon Thani, northern Thailand. Prehistoric settlements in Thailand before Ban Chiang were found mostly along the great rivers.

Located on mounds, the early settlements were relatively small. The wooden houses were built on stilts. Later, about 3000 years ago, larger villages were settled on flood plains and on the tracts of land between the flood plain and low terrace. Shards of painted ceramic ware were discovered by chance in 1957 and displayed at the village school. In 1960, some of these shards were presented to the Bangkok National Museum, but a serious study was only attempted in 1966. It confirmed that they indeed belonged to a distinctive prehistoric culture. Subsequently, public interest in Ban Chiang antiquities gained momentum.

Wooden Bell

Philippines, unknown age

Wood and Rope

A large wooden bell is beautifully formed and carved from a single piece of wood.

CURRENT EXHIBTIONS ON DISPLAY

ALL UNDER HEAVEN

Treasures of the East

Earth, Heaven,

and the Afterlife

A Very Special Gift From

Marlene and Bruce Kanter,

Heather James Fine Art

Tim Walsh

Michael H. Healy

Tianxia (天下) or, All Under Heaven is an ancient phrase used to define the ideal of a perfect and harmonious empire in the eyes of the people.

50 original antiquities spanning millennia (3,600 B.C. to 1850 A.D.) of ancient Asian cultures, from mysterious funerary objects and life-size protective temple guardians, to delicate terracotta sculptures created for the tombs of the deceased. A tapestry of silk and gold thread, a rare lacquered cosmetic box, earthen vessels, and bronze statues, these ancient treasures from China, Japan, Indonesia, and Southeast Asia, celebrate everlasting happiness, remembrance, and eternal life.

This grand collection of 50 Asian antiquities is divided into three sections: Earthly possessions, objects used by the living, the temple icons of Buddha and Shiva (Heaven), and funerary goods, objects found in the tombs of the elite (the Afterlife). Representing China, Japan, Indonesia, and Southeast Asia, MoAW premieres these dazzling artifacts for the first time together in one exhibition All Under Heaven: Earth, Heaven, and the Afterlife.

PALEO: The Story of Life

4.6 billion years of fossil history 

Drawn from the world’s foremost fossil collections, the unprecedented treasury of fossil casts known as PALEO: The Story of Life brings together in one exhibition some of the most exciting finds in the history of paleontology from over a century of worldwide excavations, exhibited in geological, chronological order.

From 2.5 billion-year-old single cellular cyanobacteria responsible for the oxygenation of the atmosphere to the first multicellular life of 700 million years ago, PALEO: The Story of Life spans 4.6 billion years in scope. From the Precambrian to the Paleozoic Era, from the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous Periods of the Mesozoic Era to mammals and prehistoric humans of the Cenozoic Era (including the famous Lucy skeleton), this internationally acclaimed, comprehensive collection dramatically illustrates the awesome story of prehistoric life on Earth.

Displaying casts of rare fossils from the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia, this prestigious collection includes skeletons, skulls, claws, and eggs gathered from such revered museums as the Smithsonian Institution, the American Museum of Natural History, The Royal Ontario Museum, the Carnegie Museum, and the National Museums of Kenya, Ethiopia, and Tanzania, as well as many others.

Cathedral City

Historical Society

presents

Then and Now

A 40th-year anniversary exhibition of the history of Cathedral City

A comprehensive photographic and artifact-rich timeline of the history of Cathedral City will greet you upon entering the lobby of the Museum of Ancient Wonders. This is an exhibition of recollections of the people and places that created Cathedral City's early history and to celebrate the 40th anniversary of its burgeoning progress, from the past to the present, THEN AND NOW is a loving tribute to the City of Cathedral City.

On Display In Association With PALEO: The Story of Life

STARSCAPE:

A Journey To The

Beginning of Time

This spectacular collection of 33 space photographs combines breathtaking digitalized images from the historic Mariner, Viking, and Voyager probes with stunning photographs from the Apollo lunar missions, the Hubble Space Telescope, and ground-based observatories. Gathered from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the California Institute of Technology, the Royal Observatory, Edinburgh, and the Hansen Planetarium, this awesome display of cosmic spectacles is a journey to the early days of the cosmos. 

LUCY:

The Story of Human Origins

(Courtesy of the Institute of Human Origins and

the National Museum of Ethiopia,

Addis Ababa)

On view exclusively at the

Museum of Ancient Wonders

JURASSIC WONDERS

11 Lifesize Metal Dinosaurs

Public Art Display

created by

Ricardo Breceda

MoAW presents JURASSIC WONDERS, a public art installation in collaboration with Cathedral City displaying 11 lifesize Dinosaurs created by renowned artist Ricardo Breceda. Divided into 4 stunning dioramas on the corner of Buddy Rogers Drive and East Palm Canyon Drive across the street from City Hall until December 31, 2022.

Become A Member of MoAW

The newest perk of membership: Free admission to more than 1,200 museums nationwide through the North American Reciprocal Museum Program (NARM) Plus, discounts at their museum shops and restaurants (if given to their members). Local museums include the Palm Springs Art Museum and Cabot's Pueblo Museum, several museums in Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco, throughout California, all 50 states, and the District of Columbia, including Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda. This is available to all members at the Donor Level ($125.00) or higher. Members who qualify will be receiving new membership cards with the NARM logo to be used at participating museums.

Current members who would like to upgrade their membership to take advantage of this new benefit please give us a call, (442) 268-5004.

Click below for more information and to join.

THANK YOU

MoAW's mission is to educate a diverse audience about the history of ancient civilizations and prehistoric life using fossils and artifacts from a variety of cultures and time periods; to enhance universal curriculum development for local and surrounding school districts, colleges, and universities, establishing museum diversity for the Coachella Valley.

Hours of Operation:

Monday - Saturday

10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Sunday 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m.



The last admission is taken one hour before closing.

Admission:

$15.00 Adults

$12.00 Students, Seniors, & Military

$ 3.00 Discount available for Coachella Valley Residents

$10.00 Group Rate for 10 or more individuals.

A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, MoAW is a member of the North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Association, the American Alliance of Museums, and the California Association of Museums.

MoAW IS SPONSORED BY

ART LABOE FOUNDATION, INC.