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Malay Silver and Gold

Courtly Splendour from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and Thailand

Michael Backman

$180

Hardback

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English
River Books
23 April 2024
Malay Silver and Gold tells not only the story of Malay gold and silverware but also that of the Malay people, with particular emphasis on the banqueting items, the regalia, the betel sets, the jewellery and even the gold and silver mounted weapons of the 18th and 19th centuries. Through hundreds of photographs, many from private collections and never before published, and meticulous research across a multitude of sources. Michael Backman provides a definitive guide to Malay silver and gold and lays to rest many misconceptions. He identifies items not previously thought to be of Malay origin, and conversely points out those pieces once thought to be Malay which are not. Through his detailed analysis, Michael Backman shows that collectors, curators and colonialism have distorted our view of the Malays and their precious gold and silver treasures, and in so doing, reveals a rich and sophisticated legacy.

AUTHOR: Michael Backman is an Australian born writer and art dealer who now resides in London. His gallery in Hanover Street is one of the world's premier sources for rare Asian, Islamic and Tribal antiques. He is a writer who specialises in Asian business, political and financial affairs.

SELLING POINTS: .

First book with colour images on highly collectable Malay silver .

Hundreds of items photographed and catalogued, many from private collections never before published .

One of the world's leading dealers in Malay silver

452 colour, 3 b/w illustrations
By:  
Imprint:   River Books
Country of Publication:   Thailand
Dimensions:   Height: 280mm,  Width: 215mm, 
Weight:   1.448kg
ISBN:   9786164510777
ISBN 10:   6164510775
Pages:   296
Publication Date:  
Audience:   General/trade ,  ELT Advanced
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Acknowledgements 10 1. Discovering Malay Silver and Gold 12 2. Private Collecting, Public Distortions: The Collecting and Colonial Bias 24 3. The River Rajas: Who are the Malays? 42 4. European Takeover and the Collapse of the Malay Courts 56 5. Malay Rulers: Their Riches and Regalia 60 6. The Minangkabau Mirage 76 7. Making Malay Silver and Gold 88 8. The Malay Silversmith’s Aesthetic 106 9. A Taxonomy of Motifs 116 10. Malay Weddings: Everyone’s Turn at Royalty 126 11. Early Malay Silver 136 12. The Malays: Forgotten Masters of Filigree 148 13. Thailand and the Malay World 166 14. Silver and Gold for Feasting 174 15. At the Heart of being Malay: Luxury Betel Sets and Tobacco Boxes 194 16. Malay Waist Buckles: Allegories of Paradise 214 17. Portable Wealth: Gold and Silver Jewellery 224 18. Pillow Ends, Modesty Plates and Other Luxury Items in Gold and Silver 240 19. Weapons for Royalty 256 20. Inscriptions on Malay Silver and Gold 262 Appendix 1 – Defining Malay 267 Appendix 2 – Overview of Key Malay Sultanates 269 Endnotes 280 Bibliography 286 Index 291

Michael Backman is an art historian, economist & writer. He is the author of nine books that cover all aspects of Asia – from art and culture to politics & business, including the Malay Silver and Gold: Courtly Splendour from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Brunei', a political biography of a Malaysian politician, and ‘Asian Eclipse’, named by The Economist as one of its books of the year, and which was nominated by the then Thai prime minister as a book that ‘all Thais should read’. He has had regular newspaper columns in Australia and Singapore, and is the founder of an eponymous Asian antiques gallery in central London which has sold to more than 40 museums worldwide. He has lived and worked in Australia, France, Indonesia and now lives permanently in London.

Reviews for Malay Silver and Gold: Courtly Splendour from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and Thailand

"""Malay Silver and Gold is the first book on this topic to have been published in over a hundred years. Rightly, it restores the Malays to the very centre of the commercial history and material culture setting of their region whilst placing them in the broader context of the 'Islamic world'. With its hundreds of beautiful photographs and outstanding research, it is a magnificent and eye-opening contribution that tells not only the story of the silver and gold items fashioned by Malay artisans but the Malay peoples themselves.'"" - Seif El Rashidi, Islamic scholar, author & Director, Barakat Trust ""This groundbreaking new book is the first study of Malay silver and gold to take chronology and place production into serious consideration, leading to a much more nuanced understanding of developments across Southeast Asia. The exciting findings include the identification as Malay of certain exquisite gold filigree pieces held in August collections worldwide.'"" - Annabel Teh Gallop, Head, Southeast Asia Department, British Library ""At last, here is an excellent publication that does full justice to the scope and beauty of Malay silver and gold. Michael Backman describes and illustrates the full range of Malay silver and gold work with superlative photographs. A great contribution to a very important, but hitherto not well understood Southeast Asia craft!'"" - Sylvia Fraser-Lu, Author"


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