In 2022-2023, University Archives embarked on a pilot 3D photography project. Supported by an endowment left by William Lindgren, graduate student Connor Stark, along with retired photojournalist and St. Cloud State alum Mike Knaak, created an initial batch of 32 3D digital objects. Those 32 objects were the culmination of an academic year long process of research, experimentation, testing, documentation, and finally photography of Lindgren Asia art objects.
In 2025, University Archivist Tom Steman continued the pilot, with the help of Mike Knaak, to create additional digital 3D objects from the collection.
To learn more about this project, please see the April 2025 presentation done by Tom Steman and Mike Knaak at the Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museums (MALHM) annual meeting.
Browse the 3D Models for William Lindgren Asian Art Collection.
William Lindgren Asian Art Collection by St. Cloud State University Archives on Sketchfab
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Tibetan Utensils #1
St. Cloud State University
Part of a set of four bowls and three sets of utensils, it is comprised of a long narrow sheath holding a long knife and pair of bone chopsticks. It is made variously of wood, sharkskin, and bone, overlaid with chased and pierced silver fittings, decorated with Buddhist and other auspicious motifs and inset with coral, turquoise, malachite, and other hardstone cabochons. Chopsticks seem to be replacements and are tarnished.
Date: 1930-1950
Dimensions (in inches): 11.7 (H) x 1 (W) x .75 (D)
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Tibetan Utensils #2
St. Cloud State University
Part of a set of four bowls and three sets of utensils, it is comprised of a long narrow sheath holding a long knife and pair of bone chopsticks. It is made variously of wood, sharkskin, and bone, overlaid with chased and pierced silver fittings, decorated with Buddhist and other auspicious motifs and inset with coral, turquoise, malachite, and other hardstone cabochons. Chopsticks seem to be replacements and are tarnished.
Date: 1930-1950
Dimensions (in inches): 12.25 (H) x 1.3 (W) x .75 (D)
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Tibetan Utensils #3
St. Cloud State University
Part of a set of four bowls and three sets of utensils, it is comprised of a long narrow sheath holding a long knife and pair of bone chopsticks. It is made variously of wood, sharkskin, and bone, overlaid with chased and pierced silver fittings, decorated with Buddhist and other auspicious motifs and inset with coral, turquoise, malachite, and other hardstone cabochons. Chopsticks seem to be replacements and are tarnished.
Date: 1930-1950
Dimensions (in inches): 12.25 (H) x 1.3 (W) x .75 (D)
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Wooden Carving of a Woman
St. Cloud State University
A modern Balinese (Indonesia) carving from the mid-20th century of a woman in traditional Clothing and holding a plant. Composed of a tropical hardwood.
Date: Mid-20th century
Dimensions (in inches): 11.25 (H) x 2.5 (W) x 3.25 (D)
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Chinese Ivory Snuff Bottle
St. Cloud State University
Ivory snuff bottle decorated with Chinese characters. The reverse exhibits relief carving of birds among bamboo.
The Chinese characters of the left and down translate to “Birdsong and Fragrant Flowers”, while the right-side characters translate to “Green bamboo and Fresh Breeze”.
On the bottom are two characters which translates to “Ming Dynasty”.
At the top is a small ivory stick with a tiny scoop which inserts into the bottle. It was meant to gather snuff. The user would then bring to nose and inhale.
Date: Early 20th century
Dimensions (in inches): 3.25 (H) x 1.5 (W) x .5 (D)
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Chinese Bronze Incense Burner
St. Cloud State University
Large bronze incensor with archaic t’ao-t’ieh panels and flanges on the curved wall, the vell covered with a carved rosewood lid surmonunted by a turquoise nggel knob. The tripod vells has a mismatched wooden base. The piece has a false Ming mark. Their is a mismatched wooden base that is not shown.
Almost every temple has an altar table outfitted with special garnature composed of candle sticks, joss stick holders, and almost always a censer as this.
Date: 1850-1900
Dimensions (in inches): 10.5 (H) x 11.5 (W) x 11.5 (D)
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Chinese Carving Of Boat On Stand
St. Cloud State University
A Chinese ivory carving of a raver barge or boat filled with passengers and minute carving of railings, including movable window shutters, lanterns, and flags. The fitted stand is stained softwood. It is carved from a single piece except for the flags and banners.
Date: Early 20th century
Dimensions (in inches): 3.7 (7 with flags) (H) x 8.75 (W) x 1.75 (D)
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Chinese Jade Handled Bowl
St. Cloud State University
Chinese carved opaque jade two handled cup or bowl modeled after an archaic form. The body is square with flaring rim with mythical beast head handles, reminiscent of an an ancient bronze ritual vessel of the kuei type. The sides are well carved with a bas-relief t’ao-t’ieh masks and flanges. The piece also has a wooden base which is not shown here.
Date: Last half of 19th century
Dimensions (in inches): 3 (H) x 5.5 (W) x 3.25 (D)
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Chinese Opium Lamp #1
St. Cloud State University
Chinese opium lamp consisting of “paktong” (an alloy of copper, zinc, and nickel). The cylindrical sides are of reticulated floral designs and panels engraved with Taoist Immortals, the glass cover (not shown) cover the intact wick. The lamp was used to heat an opium/water mixture so the vapors could be inhaled.
Date: 1850-1900
Dimensions (in inches): 3.5 (H) x 3 (W) x 3 (D)
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Chinese Opium Lamp #2
St. Cloud State University
This opium lamp was made to look like a lantern. It has six side panels with incised opework chrysanthemum design with the vessel surmounted by a lotus petal cap and resting on lappet feet. The lamp is in two brass pieces with a glass flame shield.
Date: Last half of 19th century
Dimensions (in inches): 5.75 (H) x 5 (W) x 5 (D)
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Chinese Wooden Figure #3
St. Cloud State University
Old sage holding a gnarled staff, possibly intended to represent the Taoist immortal Shou Lao.
Date: Early to mid-20th century
Dimensions (in inches): 11.5 (H) x 4.25 (W) x 3 (D)
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Chinese Wooden Figure #4
St. Cloud State University
Old fisherman holding a basket and a missing removable pole.
Date: Early to mid-20th century
Dimensions (in inches): 11.75 (H) x 6.25 (W) x 4.5 (D)
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Chinese Wood Figure #1
St. Cloud State University
This is a seated peasant man holding a removable pipe (which is missing). The topknot is broken off and missing.
Date: 1890-1900
Dimensions (in inches): 10 (H) x 4 (W) x 3.5 (D)
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Chinese Wood Figure #2
St. Cloud State University
Figure of Guanyin (the bodhisattva of mercy) standing on a coiled dragon and holding a rosary and ruyi scepter (the scepter head is broken off). Eyes and teeth are inlaid with bone and ebony.
Date: Early to mid-20th century
Dimensions (in inches): 13.25 (H) x 4.75 (W) x 2.75 (D)
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Footed and Lidded Wood Metal Container
St. Cloud State University
Sino-Tibetan lidded canister with a gnarled burlwood body trimmed with brass in a repousse dragon and lotus petal design. Inset with coral and turquoise cabochons, the three legs, two animal head and ring handles and reticulated lid similarly rendered.
Date: Late 19th century, early 20th century
Dimensions (in inches): 15 (H) x 12 (W)
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Nepalese Ceremonial Bowl
St. Cloud State University
Well worked bowl decorated with hammered and incised decoration from Nepal. The interior is of silver or an alloy thereof, the exterior wall of copper with chased repousse designs of makara (mythical dragon-elephant beast) with Buddhist canopy (symbolizing authority) and conch shell (call to worship).
Date: Late 19th century / early 20th century
Dimensions (in inches): 3.75 (H) x 7.75 (W)
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Tibetan Copper Elephant Beer Warmer
St. Cloud State University
Made of copper and brass and in the form of an elephant, the piece is caparisonned with a dragon-engraved brass blanket and carrying on its back a covered bisected pouring vessel. The two halves are inserted on either side of a covered heating chimney, presumably a flame heats water in the elephant’s body to keep the beverage hot. Reputedly for the traditional Tibetan drink, Chhaang.
Date: Late 19th century / Early 20th century
Dimensions (in inches): 11.75 (H) x 11.5 (W) x 5.75 (D)
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Tibetan Copper Lidded Wine/Tea Pot
St. Cloud State University
Teapot with silver alloy fittings, handle, and spout, profusely decorated with Buddhist symbols and mythical creatures such as a chased repousse dragon and makara. Ritual teapots of this ilk with dragon handles and spouts coming from the jaws of Makara were used for special ceremonies such as weddings.
Date: Very late 19th century or early 20th century
Dimensions (in inches): 15.25 (H) x 14.25 (W) x 8.5 (D)
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Chinese Porcelain Crackle Vase
St. Cloud State University
Decorated in underglaze blue painted under a bluff-tinted glaze with precious objects motif. It represents an idealized image of the scholar’s studio filled with the rare objects collected to inspire him. The shoulder and foot of the vase are encircled with incised and iron-brown slipped bands. False Chinese Ming Cheng Hua reign (1465-1487) at the bottom of the base. The base has been drilled for a lamp fitting.
Date: Late 19th century
Dimensions (in inches): 16.25 (H) x 8.25 (W) x 8.25 (D)
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Mughal Brass Ewer
St. Cloud State University
Pear form brass wine ewer or teapot from northern India. It exhibits all of the classic stylistic elements associated with this period, including the floral sprays, drop cartouches and leopard head handle terminus.
Date: 18th century
Dimensions (in inches): 12.25 (H) x 11.5 (W) x 4.25 (D)
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Chinese Bronze Mirror
St. Cloud State University
A mirror with the outer register cast with birds in relief, while grapes and rampant lions encircle the central pierced, animal-form knob. The surface is well-patinated and encrusted with malachite on the obverse. These mirrors were of great social importance as the predate the arrival of glass mirrors.
Date: Tang Dynasty: 705 AD - 907 AD
Dimensions (in inches): 4.75 (H) x .5 (W) x 4.75 (D)
