Includes bibliographical references (page 63) and index.

"The Walters Art Museum is among America's most distinctive museums, forging connections between people and art from cultures around the world that span seven millennia. The museum holds a stunning array of objects, from richly illuminated Qur'ans and images of the Buddha to captivating narrative paintings and artfully crafted ceramics and metalworks. Highlighting the strengths, variety, and sheer wonder of the Walters Art Museum's unique Asian and Islamic collections, Across Asia and the Islamic World is the first volume in a series of titles that break away from the traditional academic approach. It is built around themes that transcend period, form, locale, and medium, and showcases the museum's initiative to develop new ways of interpreting its collections"-- Provided by publisher.