Michael Backman Ltd Antique Jewellery from Asia (India, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, Tibet & the Himalayas, China) Click here for Tribal Jewellery & here for North African & Middle Eastern Jewellery.
- Or click here to see all the items in the Michael Backman Ltd catalogue -
From where do we source our items? We do not go on buying trips to Asia. Nor do we actively buy from dealers or suppliers based in Asia. We do not source items from India itself for example. Almost all the items stocked by Michael Backman Ltd have been sourced from the UK - from old collections. Countless items were brought to the UK during the colonial era by colonial administrators and the like. Other items were made in Asia for export to the UK – the UK was wealthy early: it has been a major destination for the world’s exports for hundreds of years. This means that most of our items have been in the UK for at least sixty to two hundred years.
The conditions in which they have been kept often has been very good – the climate is kind, and there are relatively few pests. Many items were acquired as keepsakes and curios, meaning that they stopped being used once they came to the UK. This too has helped to preserve them and their conditions often are far better than had they remained in their home countries. Buying from old UK sources means that the items have good provenance; it helps to avoid fakes, and items that have been amended or embellished. It also means that our items are obtained legally – today, most countries in Asia prohibit the export of their antiques. So, because of its colonial past, the UK is perhaps the world’s biggest source of genuine antiques from Asia, perhaps more so than Asia itself, and that is the source into which we tap.
All the items on this page are available for sale. We are based in central London, but sell to clients around the world. Want to enquire about an item on this page? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Gold Marriage Necklace Pendant (Kazhutthuru or Tali) Nattukottai Chettiar Community, Tamil Nadu, India late 19th century Inventory no.: 1859 More images & information
Pair of Cone Shell Ear Ornaments New Guinea collected in 1859 Inventory no.: 1984 More images & information
Silver & Gold Brooch/Pendant Set with Matara ‘Diamonds’ Coastal Regions, Sri Lanka 19th century Inventory no.: 2000 More images & information
Rare Pair of Gold Cuff Bracelets (Tigero Tedong) Bugis People, South Sulawesi, Indonesia 19th century Inventory no.: 2237 More images & information
Gold Filigree Bracelet (Galang Gadang) Minangkabau People, West Sumatra, Indonesia 19th century Inventory no.: 2238 More images & information
Silver & Wood ‘Pyramid’ Hairpin Laos late 19th-early 20th century Inventory no.: 2373 More images & information
Silver Ring with Large Floral Bezel Lucknow, India 18th century Inventory no.: 2430 More images & information
Ruby-Set Gold Covered Sri Yantra to Adorn a Temple Statue South India circa 17th-18th century or earlier Inventory no.: 2478 More images & information
Pair of Gold Earrings China Liao Dynasty, 10-12th century Inventory no.: 2492 More images & information
Pair of Gold Earrings China Liao Dynasty, 10-12th century Inventory no.: 2493 More images & information
Pair of Gilded Silver Dragon-Fish Shaped Earrings China Liao Dynasty, 10-12th century Inventory no.: 2491 More images & information
Pair of Fine, Engraved Gilded-Silver Serpent Bracelets China Liao Dynasty, 10th century Inventory no.: 2495 More images & information
Pair of Fine, Engraved Gilded-Silver Bracelets China Liao Dynasty, 10-12th century Inventory no.: 2496 More images & information
Gold Ring with Kirtimukha Faces & Set with a Garnet Sri Lanka 19th-early 20th century Inventory no.: 2341 More images & information
Rare Shiva-Parvati Double Rudraksha Necklace with Ruby-Inset Gold Mounts South India 18th-19th century Inventory no.: 2613 More images & information
Repousse Gold Emerald & Ruby-Set Temple Ear Ornaments South India 18th-19th century Inventory no.: 2611 More images & information
Repousse Gold Ruby-Set Temple Ear Ornaments South India 18th-19th century Inventory no.: 2610 More images & information
Silver, Coral & Turquoise Earrings (Along) Tibet late 19th century-early 20th century Inventory no.: 2637 More images & information
Pair of Gold & Coral Ear Ornaments (Godwari or Mendog Kogde) Sherpa People, Nepal-Tibet 19th century Inventory no.: 2753 More images & information
Unusually Large Tortoiseshell Comb Canton, China first half of the 19th century Inventory no.: 2785 More images & information
Gilded Bronze Belt Buckle Set with Wuzhu Coins China 17th-18th century Inventory no.: 2788 More images & information
Silver Brooch set with Matara ‘Diamonds’ & Coral Southern Coastal Regions, Sri Lanka circa 1900 Inventory no.: 2694 More images & information
Silver Hollow Kalli Anklets Newar People, Nepal early 20th century Inventory no.: 2744 More images & information
‘Star Burst’ Brooch set with Matara ‘Diamonds’ Southern Coast, Sri Lanka circa 1900 Inventory no.: 2695 More images & information
Unusual Brass Finger Ring Cast with Santa Claus' Sleigh & Reindeer Kochin, Kerala, India 20th century Inventory no.: 2993 More images & information
Pair of Silver Bangles Palakkad Area, Kerala, South India 19th century Inventory no.: 2982 More images & information
Pair of Silver Earrings Southern China 19th-20th century Inventory no.: 3254 More images & information
Pair of Silver Pendants Southern China 19th-20th century Inventory no.: 3255 More images & information
Rare Allegorical South American Emerald & Diamond Pendant Spanish Colonial or Spain 18th century Inventory no.: 3132 More images & information
Extremely Rare, Large Silver Bodice Piece set with Seventy-Four Large Table Cut Diamonds Viceroyalty of New Spain, probably the Captaincy General of Guatemala 1680-1720 Inventory no.: 3614 More images & information
Cast Copper Alloy Talismanic Pendant (Taijanja) Central Sulawesi, Indonesia circa 18th century Inventory no.: 3679 More images & information
Silver Filigree Ga’u Box with Turquoise & Coral Western Tibet late 19th century Inventory no.: 3846 More images & information
Solid & Engraved Silver Bracelet Hmong or Mien Peoples, Northern Thailand 19th century Inventory no.: 3965 More images & information
Gem-Set Gilded & Silver Filigree Ear Plug Ornaments Java, Indonesia 19th century Inventory no.: 3958 More images & information
Silver Double Axe Pendant (Taka) Central Flores, Eastern Indonesia 18th-19th century Inventory no.: 3988 More images & information
Silver & Gilded Silver Braided Silver Wire Belt (Kamarpatti) Maharashtra or Andhra Pradesh, India 19th century Inventory no.: 4041 More images & information
Large Man’s Silver Ring set with Banded Onyx Tibet 19th century Inventory no.: 3961 More images & information
Pair of Silver Woman’s Ear Ornaments (Akota) Saurashtra Peninsula, Gujarat, India early 20th century Inventory no.: 4164 More images & information
Bead & Bone Necklace or Girdle Naga People, India/Burma 19th century Inventory no.: 4259 More images & information
Glass Bead Necklace Naga People, Burma/India late 1940s Inventory no.: 4232 More images & information
Rare Fossilised Palmwood (Pumtek) Bead Necklace Pyu Kingdom, Burma, Chin People, Western Burma, & Mizo People, Eastern India circa 10th century Inventory no.: 4256 More images & information
Bead Necklace Naga People, India/Burma 19th century-early 20th century Inventory no.: 4260 More images & information
Carved Shell, Glass & Wood Bead & Fossilised Palmwood (Pumtek) Necklace Mizo People, Western India, or Naga People, Burma/India circa 1900 Inventory no.: 4399 More images & information
Cast Brass Male Fertility Ring Muria People, Bastar, Madhya Pradesh, India 18th-19th century Inventory no.: 4261 More images & information
Cast Brass Male Fertility Ring Muria People, Bastar, Madhya Pradesh, India 18th-19th century Inventory no.: 4265 More images & information
Gold & Turquoise Official’s Pendant (Sochi) Lhasa, Tibet 19th century Inventory no.: 3285 More images & information
Necklace of Rare Hollow Reeded Gold Beads Pyu (present-day Burma) 5th-9th century Inventory no.: 4499 More images & information
Gilded Silver Butterfly Hair Ornament set with Turquoise Nepal or Eastern Tibet 18th-19th century Inventory no.: 4404 More images & information
Gilded Clasp set with Turquoise & Coral Tibet 19th century Inventory no.: 4148 More images & information
Unusually Large Chased Silver Christian Cross Sri Lanka 19th-early 20th century Inventory no.: 4577 More images & information
Silver Double Axe Pendant (Taka) Central Flores, Eastern Indonesia 18th-19th century Inventory no.: 3987 More images & information
Chased Silver & Copper Ga’u Box set with a Coral Cabochon Tibet 19th century Inventory no.: 4129 More images & information
Pair of Man’s Solid Brass Spiral Ear Ornaments Kenyah/Kayan Dayak People, Sarawak, Borneo 19th century Inventory no.: 3945 More images & information
Two Amber Pointed Cylinder Ear Plugs Kachin People, Burma 19th-early 20th century Inventory no.: 4575 More images & information
Gilded Silver Garuda Pendant set with Turquoise, Pearls, Coral & Other Stones Newar People, Kathmandu Valley, Nepal 18th-19th century Inventory no.: 4403 More images & information
Brass Pinangpanga Linglingo Pendant Bontoc People, Northern Luzon, Philippines 19th-20th century Inventory no.: 3878 More images & information
Enamelled Gold Jadau Pendant Set with Diamonds & Pearls Northern India circa 1850 Inventory no.: 4615 More images & information
Flexible, Pierced, Silver Armlet (Bazuband) Rajasthan, India 19th-early 20th century Inventory no.: 4795 More images & information
Inscribed, Flexible Silver Armlet (Bazuband) Rajasthan, India 19th-early 20th century Inventory no.: 4568 More images & information
Flexible Silver Armlet (Bazuband) Rajasthan, India 19th-early 20th century Inventory no.: 4761 More images & information
Crescent-shaped Silver Bangle India, probably Gujarat 19th century Inventory no.: 4769 More images & information
Gold Wound-Wire Ring Central Java, Indonesia Protoclassic Period, AD200-700 Inventory no.: 1985 More images & information
Gold Earrings (Souri) Tamil Nadu, India 19th century - early 20th century Inventory no.: 4996 RESERVED More images & information
Gold Tubular Earrings (Murikkilattam) early 20th century South India Inventory no.: 4997 RESERVED More images & information
Silver Bead Necklace Gujarat, India 19th-early 20th century Inventory no.: 4798 More images & information
Pair of Man’s Solid Brass Spiral Ear Ornaments Kenyah/Kayan Dayak People, Sarawak, Borneo 19th century Inventory no.: 3944 More images & information
Strand of Rare Glass Beads & Gold Foil Beads Mediterranean, India or perhaps Central Java, Indonesia 700-1000AD or earlier Inventory no.: 3286 More images & information
Pair of Woman’s Silver & Turquoise Earrings Central Tibet 19th century Inventory no.: 4195 More images & information
Pair of Silver & Gold Woman’s Ear Ornaments (Akota) Saurashtra Peninsula, Gujarat, India early 20th century Inventory no.: 4975 More images & information
Large, Splendid Silver Anklet (Milna Payal) Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India 19th century Inventory no.: 4947 More images & information
Silver Panelled Belt (Araipatti) Tamil Nadu, South India 19th century Inventory no.: 4913 More images & information
Unusual Double, Solid Silver Tiger Bracelet Himachal Pradesh, India early 20th century Inventory no.: 4961 More images & information
Silver Bangle Madhya Pradesh, India early 20th century Inventory no.: 4962 More images & information
Pair of Solid-Cast Silver Lion-Headed Bangles India, either Rajasthan or Himachal Pradesh early 20th century Inventory no.: 4955 More images & information