Thai Silver and Nielloware

Thai Silver and Nielloware
Author: Paul Bromberg
Publisher: River books
Total Pages: 232
Release: 2019
Genre: Niello
ISBN: 9786164510142

Thai silver and nielloware display exquisite craftsmanship and design to rival better-known genres of silver from Asia. However, there has to date been little written about this fascinating subject. Examining the history and scope of specified Thai silver and nielloware production dating from the early 19th century to the present, as well as the various forms and designs utilised, this book provides a single reference source on the subject matter for both newcomers and seasoned collectors alike. The book focuses on the various artefacts broadly termed "utensils" and "vessels", produced for utilitarian purposes, that can still be found for sale in the domestic marketplace, while rarer artefacts, collectibles and commemorative items made for the royal court are also discussed: such items were typically of the highest quality made by top artisans. The author considers the role of religious and devotional silver objects in Thailand, as these too have become popular collectibles. Although dating of Asian silverware generally remains problematic, the author provides dating indicators and the first published compilation of Chinese and other marks on silverware found in Thailand. Paul Bromberg, the author, is the serving editor of the Journal of the Siam Society and a contributing editor to Arts of Asia magazine. Originally a Sinologist, he has been living in Asia since 1985, and has been resident in Bangkok since 1997. 400 photographs

Burmese Silver Art: Masterpieces Illuminating Buddhist, Hindu and Mythological Stories of Purpose and Wisdom

Burmese Silver Art: Masterpieces Illuminating Buddhist, Hindu and Mythological Stories of Purpose and Wisdom
Author: David C. Owens
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish International Asia Pte Ltd
Total Pages:
Release: 2020-06-15
Genre: Design
ISBN: 9814893501

Burmese master silversmiths produced a magnificent body of work from the mid-19th to the early 20th centuries – the Burmese Silver Age. This aesthetic and functional work is characterized by a unique decorative style and superb technical artistry. Many of the artefacts are embellished with mysterious visual narratives drawn from ancient religious and mythological sources, communicating spiritual beliefs and values that resonate to this day. Burmese silverwork is a distinct and little-known genre of silver art. This book tackles this obscurity by illuminating and describing for the first time 100 Burmese silver artefacts in a stunning photographic gallery. This silverwork – from the Noble Silver Collection – represents some of the rarest and finest quality work from the Burmese Silver Age. The centrepiece gallery of silverwork masterpieces is bookended by two well-illustrated and informative chapters that provide readers with deeper insights into Burmese silverwork: a robust frame of reference chapter summarises the 2,000-year history and cultural tradition of Burmese silverwork; and a chapter following the gallery deciphers the complex and allegorical iconography of the decoration, which gives the reader a deeper appreciation of its religious and cultural meaning and origin. This book captures the great, almost mystical, allure of Burmese silverwork – from the sublime artistry of the decoration, to the extraordinary skill of the silversmith and the profound meaning and importance of the visual narratives. In doing so, Burmese Silver Art takes its place as a definitive reference work for any art historian, collector, expert, student, or general reader interested in this hitherto-overlooked body of noble art.

Silverware of South-East Asia

Silverware of South-East Asia
Author: Sylvia Fraser-Lu
Publisher:
Total Pages: 160
Release: 1989
Genre: Antiques & Collectibles
ISBN:

The art of silversmithing in South-East Asia is part of a tradition dating back over 3000 years, and has been exposed to Indian, Chinese, Muslim, and European influences. In this illustrated introductory volume, the author outlines the history of silverware in South-East Asia and discusses the local tradition in each of the countries in the region, highlighting the unique features of the various communities.

Desert Silver

Desert Silver
Author: Sigrid van Roode
Publisher: Blikvelduitgevers Publishers
Total Pages: 168
Release: 2017
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 9789080774476

This book is all about jewellery from the Middle East and North Africa. These objects of adornment are not just beautiful, but often carry a hidden meaning. Jewellery plays a subtle role in everyday society as communicator, messenger, protector and bank account: understanding jewellery reveals these messages. Desert Silver introduces the historical, social, economic and religious background of this traditional jewellery, embarking on a colourful journey from the steppes of Central Asia to the seaside trade ports of the Maghreb.

King of Bangkok

King of Bangkok
Author: Claudio Sopranzetti
Publisher: University of Toronto Press
Total Pages: 280
Release: 2021
Genre: Bangkok (Thailand)
ISBN: 1487526415

The English translation of this best-selling graphic novel tells the story of Nok, an old blind man who sells lottery tickets in Bangkok, as he decides to leave the city and return to his native village. Through reflections on contemporary Bangkok and flashbacks to his past, Nok reconstructs a journey through the slums of migrant workers, the rice fields of Isaan, the tourist villages of Ko Pha Ngan, and the Red Shirt protests of 2010. Based on a decade of anthropological research, The King of Bangkok is a story of migration to the city, distant families in the countryside, economic development eroding the land, and violent political protest. Ultimately, it is a story about contemporary Thailand and how the waves of history lift, engulf, and crash against ordinary people.

A History of Ayutthaya

A History of Ayutthaya
Author: Chris Baker
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 345
Release: 2017-05-11
Genre: History
ISBN: 1107190762

The first full history of a great commercial and political center that rose in Asia over almost five centuries.

Metallography and Microstructure in Ancient and Historic Metals

Metallography and Microstructure in Ancient and Historic Metals
Author: David A. Scott
Publisher: Getty Publications
Total Pages: 185
Release: 1992-01-02
Genre: Antiques & Collectibles
ISBN: 0892361956

David A. Scott provides a detailed introduction to the structure and morphology of ancient and historic metallic materials. Much of the scientific research on this important topic has been inaccessible, scattered throughout the international literature, or unpublished; this volume, although not exhaustive in its coverage, fills an important need by assembling much of this information in a single source. Jointly published by the GCI and the J. Paul Getty Museum, the book deals with many practical matters relating to the mounting, preparation, etching, polishing, and microscopy of metallic samples and includes an account of the way in which phase diagrams can be used to assist in structural interpretation. The text is supplemented by an extensive number of microstructural studies carried out in the laboratory on ancient and historic metals. The student beginning the study of metallic materials and the conservation scientist who wishes to carry out structural studies of metallic objects of art will find this publication quite useful.

Power, Identity, and the Rise of Modern Architecture

Power, Identity, and the Rise of Modern Architecture
Author: Koompong Noobanjong
Publisher: Universal-Publishers
Total Pages: 448
Release: 2003
Genre: Architecture
ISBN: 1581122012

This dissertation examines the evolution of Western and Modern architecture in Siam and Thailand. It illustrates how various architectural ideas have contributed to the physical design and spatial configuration of places associated with negotiation and allocation of political power, which are throne halls, parliaments, and government and civic structures since the 1850s.