The Stein Collection

The V&A Stein Collection, on loan from the Government of India, includes nearly 600 textile fragments and over 70 ceramic and Buddhist objects. These rare objects, dating between 200 BC and 1200 AD, were recovered at the beginning of the 20th century by Hungarian-born, British archaeologist, Sir Marc Aurel Stein from The Silk Road – an ancient network of trade routes across Central Asia that connected the East and West.

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The Stein Collection: an introduction

Find out more about this incredible collection

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    Sir Marc Aurel Stein

    Find out more abut the man behind the collection

Collection highlights

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  1. fragments
    Fragments of Artificial flowers, 300 - 400 AD, Miran, China, cotton and silk with wooden pegs
    V&A East Storehouse
    View by appointment
  2. horse head-shaped fragment
    Horse head-shaped fragment, 200 – 500 AD, Xinjiang, China, terracotta
    V&A South Kensington
    On display
  3. relief fragment
    Relief fragment, about 500 AD, Khadalik, China, moulded stucco
    V&A South Kensington
    View by appointment
  4. panel fragment
    Fragment of wooden panel, about 500 AD, Khadalik, China, painted wood
    V&A South Kensington
    View by appointment
  5. shoe
    Shoe, 200 – 400 AD, The Limes Watchtowers, plant fibre
    V&A East Storehouse
    View by appointment
  6. Textile fragments
    Textile fragments, 600 – 900 AD, Dunhuang, China, silk damask
    V&A East Storehouse
    View by appointment
  7. head fragment
    Head fragment, 200 – 500 AD, Xinjiang Uygur Zizhiqu, terracotta
    V&A South Kensington
    On display
  8. fragment
    Textile fragment, 700 AD, Dunhuang, China, embroidered silk
    V&A East Storehouse
    View by appointment
  9. rope
    Rope, 200 – 400 AD, Loulan, China, leather and grass
    V&A East Storehouse
    View by appointment
  10. relief head
    Head of a Bodhisattva, 500 – 600 AD, Xinjiang, China, moulded stucco
    V&A South Kensington
    On display
  11. ceramic sherd
    Ceramic fragment, 1000 – 1100 AD, Xinjiang, China, incised stoneware
    V&A South Kensington
    On display
  12. fragment
    Textile fragment, 600 – 800 AD, Dunhuang, China, pattern woven silk
    V&A East Storehouse
    View by appointment
  13. porcelain bowl fragment
    Porcelain fragment, 1368 – 1644, Jingdezhen, China
    V&A South Kensington
    On display
  14. canopy
    Canopy, 600 – 800 AD, Dunhuang, China, plain woven hemp
    V&A East Storehouse
    View by appointment
  15. banner
    Banner, 600 – 900 AD, Dunhuang, China, pattern and plain woven silk, wood and paint
    V&A East Storehouse
    View by appointment
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Header image:
Fragments of artificial flowers, 300 – 400 AD, Miran, China. Museum no. LOAN:STEIN.628. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London