MOA Collection
The ethnographic collections at the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia (MOA) consist of around 51,000 items from around the world (as of August 2026). The Asian collection is the largest collection, accounting for 40% of the museum’s holdings. Highlights of this rich, eclectic Asian collection include one of the world’s largest collections of Cantonese opera stage objects, Indian calendar prints, Japanese woodblock ukiyo-e prints, and an extensive collection of textiles, including magnificent Tibetan robes. The collection also contains a wide range of ceramics, masks, and puppets. MOA also has a large collection of historical photographs in its Archives. Among the Asian collection, MOA has a significant South Asian collection.
Museum of Anthropology at UBC (MOA) Online Collection – MOACAT
Most of the belongings, objects and works were donated to the museum. South Asian Collection at MOA as of August 2026.
- Indian collection (2,626 items)
- Sri Lankan collection (285 items)
- Pakistani collection (168 items)
- Afghan collection (168 items) – Afghanistan is also part of Central Asia.
- Nepali collection (92 items)
- Bhutanese collection (31 items)
- Bangladesh collection (3 items) – 1 item is yet to be added to the database.