Michael Backman Ltd
Islamic Art from Southeast Asia
To read an essay on whether Southeast Asian Islamic art is really Islamic art, click here.
And for an essay on Malay Brassware, click here.
Malay Water Container
Sumatra, Indonesia
late 19th century
Inventory no.: 328
More images & information
Large Brass Oil Jar
Padang Highlands, Sumatra, Indonesia
circa 1900
Inventory no.: 440
More images & information
Large Brass Gong (Tawak-tawak)
Sarawak (Malaysia) or Brunei
early 20th century or earlier
Inventory no.: 431
More images & information
Batik Head Cloth (Iket Kepala)
Central Java, Indonesia
circa 1910
Inventory no.: 585
More images & information
Water Kettle for Hand Washing
Sumatra/Borneo
late 19th century
Inventory no.: 551
More images & information
Malay Brass Spittoon
Malaysia
19th-early 20th century
Inventory no.: 533
More images & information
Water Kettle for Hand Washing
Sumatra/Malay Peninsula
circa 1900
Inventory no.: 471
More images & information
Two Malay Brass Water Jars with Lids
Sumatra/Malay Peninsula
late 19th century
Inventory no.: 321
More images & information
Gold Thread & Red Silk Songket
Minangkabau People, South
Sumatra Indonesia
circa 1930
Inventory no.: 559
More images & information
Gold Thread & Red Silk Songket
Minangkabau People, South
Sumatra, Indonesia
19th century
Inventory no.: 558
More images & information
Water Kettle for Hand Washing
Sumatra/Malay Peninsula
circa 1900
Inventory no.: 568
More images & information
Malay Water Kettle for Hand Washing
Sumatra/Malay Peninsula
late 19th century
Inventory no.: 327
More images & information
Water Kettle for Hand Washing
Brunei/Sabah/Sarawak
19th century
Inventory no.: 464
More images & information
Large Malay Brass Betel or Tobacco Box
Brunei or Malay Peninsula
19th century
Inventory no.: 313
More images & information
Malay Brass Taza
Malay peninsular
late 19th century
Inventory no.: 333
More images & information
Water Kettle for Hand Washing
Sumatra/Malay Peninsula
circa 1900
Inventory no.: 325
More images & information
Large Cast Bronze Offering Tray (Talam)
Java, Indonesia
circa 14th century
Inventory no.: 273
More images & information
Brass Zoomorphic Water Container (Kendi)
Brunei/Sarawak
19th century
Inventory no.: 632
More images & information
Malay Brass Rose Water Sprinkler
Northern Malaysia
18th century
Inventory no.: 96
More images & information
Engraved Silver Humidor
Brunei
circa 1930
Inventory no.: 29
More images & information
Unusual, Large Courtly Belt Buckle
Central Java, Indonesia
19th century
Inventory no.: 720
More images & information
Silver Betel / Tobacco Box
Sumatra, Indonesia
19th century
Inventory no.: 637
More images & information
Silver Betel / Tobacco Box
Sumatra, Indonesia
19th century
Inventory no.: 639
More images & information
Silver Betel / Tobacco Box
Sumatra, Indonesia
19th century
Inventory no.: 640
More images & information
Silver Betel / Tobacco Box
Sumatra, Indonesia
19th century
Inventory no.: 641
More images & information
Islamic Water Kettle for Hand Washing
Brunei or Sarawak (Malaysia)
19th century
Inventory no.: 736
More images & information
Malay Brass Coconut Oil Container
Malaysia/Sumatra
late 19th century
Inventory no.: 751
More images & information
Nine Early Post Cards of Southeast Asian Sultans & other Islamic Rulers
Inventory no.: 684
More images & information
Pair of Gold Earrings
East Java, Indonesia
circa AD 700
Inventory no.: 269
More images & information
Engraved Malay Brass Betel or Tobacco Box
Malay Peninsula
19th century
Inventory no.: 314
More images & information
Silver-Inlaid Brass Betel Box
Brunei
19th century
Inventory no.: 839
More images & information
Engraved Brass Betel Box Set
Sumatra, Indonesia or Malaysia
19th century
Inventory no.: 855
More images & information
Malay Brass Water Kettle
Sumatra/Malay Peninsula
circa 1920
Inventory no.: 777
More images & information


-  Or click here to see all the items in the Michael Backman Ltd catalogue  -
These Items are available - Ask about an item
Trisular
East Java, Indonesia
17th century
Inventory no.: 309
More images & information
Brass Malay/Minangkabau Cash Box
Minangkabau people, Sumatra, Indonesia
19th century
Inventory no.: 1122
More images & information
Batik Headcloth (Iket Kepala) with Stylised Moth (Kupu-Kupu) Motifs
Java, Indonesia
late 19th century
dimensions: 105cm x 105cm
Inventory no.: 1146
More images & information
Filigree Silver Model of a Malay Village
Sumatra, Indonesia
circa 1900
Provenance: The Dayang Muda of Sarawak
Inventory no.: 1094
More images & information
Brass Cannon (Lantaka)
Sarawak (Malaysia) or Brunei
18th-19th century
Inventory no.: 1159
More images & information
Amboyna Burr Wood Betel Box with Silver Mounts
Dutch Colonial Batavia, Indonesia
18th century
Inventory no.: 1208
More images & information
Seven Courtly Belt Buckles with Semi Precious Stones
Central Java, Indonesia
19th century
Inventory no.: 1191
More images & information
Malay or Minangkabau Cast Brass Kendi
Sumatra or Malaysia
19th century
Inventory no.: 1217
More images & information
Dance Mask (Topeng) of Prince Panji
Central Java, Indonesia
early 20th century or earlier
Inventory no.: 276
More images & information
Dance Mask (Topeng) of Bagong
Java, Indonesia
early 20th century or earlier
Inventory no.: 278
More images & information
Dance Mask (Topeng) of Resobagu
Central Java, Indonesia
early 20th century or earlier
Inventory no.: 280
More images & information
Dance Mask (Topeng), probably of Kala Mercu
Java, Indonesia
early 20th century or earlier
Inventory no.: 277
More images & information
Dance Mask (Topeng) of a Princely Figure
Central Java, Indonesia
early 20th century or earlier
Inventory no.: 279
More images & information
Engraved Silver Dutch Colonial Tobacco or Betel Box
Batavia, Dutch East Indies
18th century
Inventory no.: 1353
More images & information
Brass Rice Measure (Gantang)
Brunei
dated 1899
Inventory no.: 1304
More images & information
Silk Ceremonial Jacket (Baju) with Gold Brocade
Sumatra, Indonesia
19th century
Inventory no.: 1498
More images & information
Woman's Embroidered Vest (Baju Mesirat)
Gayo or Alas People, Central Aceh, Indonesia
early 20th century
Inventory no.: 1499
More images & information
Miniature Ceremonial Dragon Headed Canon
Surakarta (Solo), Java, Indonesia
18th century
Inventory no.: 1501
More images & information
Pedang Sword with Horn Hilt & Silver Alloy Mounts
Sumatra or Java, Indonesia
19th century
Inventory no.: 1518
More images & information
Chased Silver Beaker
Java, Indonesia
circa 1920-30
Inventory no.: 1503
More images & information
Brass Cast Kendi
Minangkabau, Sumatra, Indonesia
circa 1900
Inventory no.: 1580
More images & information
Dagger (Tumbok Lada) with Parrot-shaped Horn Hilt
Malay, Malaysia
early 20th century
Inventory no.: 1538
More images & information
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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 Indonesia or Malaysia 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?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Two Engraved Brass Betel or Tobacco Boxes
North Sumatra (probably Aceh), Indonesia
18th-19th century
Inventory no.: 1203
More images & information
Signed Dutch Colonial Silver Betel Box
Batavia, Dutch East Indies
18th century
Inventory no.: 1718
More images & information
Magnificent Carved Horn & Wood Piso Sanalenggam Sword
Pakpak Batak People, North Sumatra, Indonesia
19th century
Inventory no.: 1849
More images & information
Silver & Ivory Hilt Piso Gading Sword
Toba Batak People, North Sumatra, Indonesia
19th century
Inventory no.: 1848
More images & information
Pamor Iron Spearhead (Tombak) Overlaid with Gold 'Tree-of-Life' Motif
Java, Indonesia
17th century
Inventory no.: 1841
More images & information
Kris Tajong with Zoomorphic Carved Wooden Hilt
Kelantan, Malaysia, or Southern Thailand
19th century
Inventory no.: 1840
More images & information
Royal Princely Heirloom Kris
Palace of Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia
late 19th century & 16th-18th century
Inventory no.: 1899
More images & information
Exceptionally Rare Kris with Carved Ivory Hilt and Mataram-era ‘Singa’ Blade Overlaid with Gold and a Ruby
Sumatra/Java, Indonesia
17th and 18th-19th centuries
Inventory no.: 1900
More images & information
Kris with Silver-Gilt Encased Scabbard with Carved Marine Ivory Jawa Demam-style Hilt
Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia
19th century
Inventory no.: 1908
More images & information
Large Dutch Colonial Burlwood Document Box with Engraved Silver Mounts
Batavia or Sri Lanka
circa 1740
Inventory no.: 1911
More images & information
Golok Sword with Horn, Bone Hilt & Silver Mounts
West Java, Indonesia
19th century
Inventory no.: 1938
More images & information
Highly Unusual Kris with Ebony Scabbard and Hilt Carved as a Dutch Resident, and with a Jawi Inscription
Madura, Indonesia
circa 1820
Inventory no.: 2010
More images & information