Torajan Bone & Cane War Jacket
Central Sulawesi (Celebes), Indonesia
early 20th century
Inventory no.: 504
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Kammavaca Manuscript with Sarsekyo Binding Ribbon
probably Mandalay, Burma (Myanmar)
late 19th-early 20th century
Inventory no.: 368
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Dance Mask (Topeng) of
Prince Panji
Central Java, Indonesia, early
20th century or earlier
Inventory no.: 276
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Dance Mask (Topeng) of
Resobagu
Central Java, Indonesia,
early 20th century or earlier
Inventory no.: 280
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Dance Mask (Topeng),
probably of Kala Mercu
Java, Indonesia
early 20th century or earlier
Inventory no.: 277
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Dance Mask (Topeng) of
a Princely Figure
Central Java, Indonesia,
early 20th century or
earlier
Inventory no.: 279
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Palm Leaf Pátimokkha Manuscript with Sarsekyo Binding Ribbon
Burma (Myanmar)
circa 1870
Inventory no.: 581
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Four Jamnagar ‘Gulab’ Betel Cutters
Jamnagar, India, but collected in Java,
Indonesia
19th-20th century
Inventory no.: 226
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Seven Silver-Gilt Key Holders
Peranakan Chinese Community, Java, Indonesia
circa 1920
Inventory no.: 300
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Silver Cane Top Overlaid with Gold, signed 'Vinh - Sa Dec'
Sa Dec, Vietnam
circa 1910
Inventory no.: 854
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Gold Lacquer Betel Box &
Stand in the form of the Sacred
Goose (Hamsa)
Burma
19th century
Inventory no.: 1007
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Spanish Colonial-Style Carabao Horn & Silver Hat
Luzon, Philippines, 19th century
19th century
Inventory no.: 1067
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Raja's Brass Tobacco Pipe (Tulpang)
Toba Batak, North Sumatra, Indonesia
19th century
length: 100cm
Inventory no.: 1110
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Raja's Brass Tobacco Pipe (Tulpang)
Toba Batak, North Sumatra, Indonesia
19th century
length: 84cm
Inventory no.: 1112
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Raja's Brass Tobacco Pipe (Tulpang)
Toba Batak, North Sumatra, Indonesia
19th century
length: 76cm
Inventory no.: 1111
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Miniature Gilded Bronze Shrine
Bangkok-Style, Ratanakosin Period, Thailand
19th century
Inventory no.: 1151
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Carved Wooden Cockspur Case with Iron Spur
Lombok, Indonesia
19th-early 20th century
Inventory no.: 1183
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Gilded & Lacquered Manuscript Chest (Sadaik)
Burma
early 20th century
length: 99cm, height: 65cm, width: 62cm
Inventory no.: 1181
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Pair of Large Architectural Singa or Gajah Dompak House Facade Elements
Batak people, Lake Toba District, North Sumatra, Indonesia
late 19th century
Inventory no.: 1227
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Large Terracotta Glazed Tile Depicting Two of Mara’s Warriors
Shwegugyi Pagoda, Pegu, Burma
circa 1472
Inventory no.: 1256
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Silver 'Star Anise' Filigree Dutch Colonial Betel or Jewellery Box
Provenance: The Estate of HM Queen Juliana of The Netherlands
Batavia, Indonesia
circa 1760
Inventory no.: 1284
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Bronze Image of Prajna Paramita
Bayon Style, Angkor Period, Cambodia
circa 12th-13th century
Inventory no.: 1413
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Rare Polychrome & Gilt Ivory Image of St Francis Xavier
Spanish Colonial Philippines
18th century
Inventory no.: 1441
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Large Bencharong Cylindrical Monastery Porcelain Teapot
China, for the Thai market
1860-1880
Inventory no.: 1462
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Bronze Standing Vishnu
Cambodia
Baphuon Style, Angkor Period, second half of 11th century
Inventory no.: 1470
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Small Dagger with Silver Mounts & Carved Ivory Hilt in the form of an Egret
Burma
18th-19th century
Inventory no.: 1461
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Baler Shell Serving Spoon & Fork with Butterfly Silver Mounts
Manila, Colonial Philippines
19th century
Inventory no.: 1477
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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 Burma (Myanmar) 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.
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Tall, Superb Ancestor Chief Figure (Siraha Salawa)
North Nias, Indonesia
19th century
height: 71.5cm
Inventory no.: 1551
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