Mr. Tsuda Tetsuei and Dr. Sarai Mai named Margaret F. Williams Memorial Fellows

Mr. Tsuda Tetsuei, Head of the Art Research Materials and Dr. Sarai Mai, Senior Researcher at The National Institute of Cultural Properties in Tokyo, conducted research on two eighth-century hollow lacquer sculptures, Bonten and Taishakuten in the Asian Art Museum’s collection during their two-week fellowship. The researchers discovered that many of the structural repairs over time on the sculptures had utilized original materials. This finding enhances the two sculptures’ intrinsic value.

Established by the late Asia Foundation President Emeritus Ambassador Haydn Williams, the Margaret F. Williams Memorial Fellows in Asian Art Program honors his late wife, whose interest in Asian art was stimulated by their travels together on Asia Foundation visits to the region. Mrs. Williams was also a founding docent at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, the cooperating partner in implementing the fellowship program.