Michael Backman Ltd
Southeast Asian & other Textiles
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Fine Bamboo Under-Vest for Qing Court Robes & Wedding Costumes
China but also used in the Straits Settlements
19th century
Inventory no.: 20
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Batik Head Cloth (Iket Kepala)
Central Java, Indonesia
circa 1910
Inventory no.: 585
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Torajan War Jacket
Central Sulawesi (Celebes), Indonesia
early 20th century
Inventory no.: 504
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Ikat
'Greater Blossom' Clan
Savu, Eastern Indonesia
late 19th century
Inventory no.: 561
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Gold Thread & Red Silk Songket
Minangkabau People
South Sumatra, Indonesia
19th century
Inventory no.: 558
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Gold Thread & Red Silk Songket
Minangkabau People
South Sumatra, Indonesia
circa 1930
Inventory no.: 559
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Traditional Fabric & Cane Parasol
Burma
circa 1920
Inventory no.: 691
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Silk Panel Embroidered with Silk & Metallic Threads, Seed Pearls & Sequins after an Indian Miniature
Jaipur, or Bikaner, Northern India
late 18th century
Inventory no.: 833
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Embroidered Sufi Cloak
Egypt
late 19th century
Inventory no.: 1107
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Pair of Princely Gold Thread Zardozi Court Shoes
Northern India
19th century
Inventory no.: 942
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Calligraphic (Tulisan Arab) Batik
Cirebon, Java, Indonesia
19th century
dimensions: 95 x 92cm
Inventory no.: 1145
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Silk Embroidered Linen Panel (Susani)
Bukhara
19th century
dimensions: 57cm x 58cm
Inventory no.: 1144
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Batik Headcloth (Iket Kepala) with Stylised Moth (Kupu-Kupu) Motifs
Java, Indonesia
late 19th century
dimensions: 105cm x 105cm
Inventory no.: 1146
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Silk Ceremonial Jacket (Baju) with Gold Brocade
Sumatra, Indonesia
19th century
Inventory no.: 1498
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Embroidered Vest
Gayo People, Central Aceh, Indonesia
early 20th century
Inventory no.: 1499
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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 India or Indonesia themselves 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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Pair of Temple Banners in Chinese Silk Brocade
Mongolia
late 19th-early 20th century
Inventory no.: 1565
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