Michael Backman Ltd
Chinese Art, including Export Art
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Chinese Art, including Export Art
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Pair of Miniature Glazed Pottery Ducks
China
Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)
Inventory no.: 472
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China
Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)
Inventory no.: 472
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Dish made for the Indian Islamic Market
China
dated 1821
Inventory no.: 526
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China
dated 1821
Inventory no.: 526
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Straits Chinese Mooncake Mould
Straits Settlements, Malay Peninsular
early 20th century
Inventory no.: 30
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Straits Settlements, Malay Peninsular
early 20th century
Inventory no.: 30
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Wooden Printing Block with Manchu Script
Northern China
18th century
Inventory no.: 570
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Northern China
18th century
Inventory no.: 570
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Silver Inlaid Bronze Garment Hook
China, Eastern Zhou Dynasty
Warring States Period, (5th-4th century BC)
Inventory no.: 469
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China, Eastern Zhou Dynasty
Warring States Period, (5th-4th century BC)
Inventory no.: 469
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Fine Bamboo Under-Vest for Qing Court Robes & Wedding Costumes
China & used in the Straits Settlements
19th century
Inventory no.: 20
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China & used in the Straits Settlements
19th century
Inventory no.: 20
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Carved Wash Stand
Northern China
19th century
Inventory no.: 413
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Northern China
19th century
Inventory no.: 413
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Carved Wash Stand
Northern China
19th century
Inventory no.: 414
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Northern China
19th century
Inventory no.: 414
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Temple God
China or Southeast Asian
Chinese Communities
early 20th century
Inventory no.: 716
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China or Southeast Asian
Chinese Communities
early 20th century
Inventory no.: 716
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Also see Chinese Export Silver & Straits Chinese Art
Sino-Tibetan or Sino-Mongolian Silver Covered Kalasha Vase
China or Tibet
19th century or earlier
Inventory no.: 35
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China or Tibet
19th century or earlier
Inventory no.: 35
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Cloisonne Tibetan Monk’s Cap Ewer
China
circa 1850
Inventory no.: 884
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China
circa 1850
Inventory no.: 884
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| These Items are available - Ask about an item |
Cloisonné Inkwell
China
late 18th century
Inventory no.: 921
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China
late 18th century
Inventory no.: 921
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Chinese Celadon Vase with Malay Silver Mounts
China/Malay world
late 19th century
Inventory no.: 973
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China/Malay world
late 19th century
Inventory no.: 973
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Monumental Gilt & Lacquer Wooden Portable Taoist Shrine
Chaozhou/Shantou, China
late 19th century/early 20th century
height: 210cm (2.1m)
Inventory no.: 1015
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Chaozhou/Shantou, China
late 19th century/early 20th century
height: 210cm (2.1m)
Inventory no.: 1015
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Rare, Elaborately Carved Tortoiseshell Ruyi Sceptre
China
19th century
Inventory no.: 1141
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China
19th century
Inventory no.: 1141
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Silver-gilt Filigree Casket
Batavia or possibly China
circa 1750
Inventory no.: 1117
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Batavia or possibly China
circa 1750
Inventory no.: 1117
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| Also see Chinese Export Silver & Straits Chinese Art |
The Monogrammed Mother-of-Pearl Gaming Set of Princess Sophia, Daughter of George III
Canton (Guangdong), China
circa 1815
includes 118 gaming counters
Inventory no.: 1483
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Canton (Guangdong), China
circa 1815
includes 118 gaming counters
Inventory no.: 1483
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Large Bencharong Cylindrical Monastery Porcelain Teapot
China, for the Thai market
1860-1880
height: 31.6cm
Inventory no.: 1462
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China, for the Thai market
1860-1880
height: 31.6cm
Inventory no.: 1462
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Cloisoneé Ga’u Amulet Box
China for the Tibet Market
late 19th century
Inventory no.: 1465
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China for the Tibet Market
late 19th century
Inventory no.: 1465
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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 China 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.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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 China 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.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Terracotta Funerary Tile (Huaxiangzhuan)of an Elephant & Elephant Tamer
China
Eastern Han Dynasty, 25-220 AD
Inventory no. 1563
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China
Eastern Han Dynasty, 25-220 AD
Inventory no. 1563
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Jesuit Baluster Vase for the Portuguese Colonial Market
China
late 19th century
Inventory no.: 1576
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China
late 19th century
Inventory no.: 1576
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Pair of Temple Banners in Chinese Silk Brocade
Mongolia
late 19th-early 20th century
Inventory no.: 1565
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Mongolia
late 19th-early 20th century
Inventory no.: 1565
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