Michael Backman Ltd
Southeast Asian & other Textiles
& Related Items
Batik Head Cloth (Iket Kepala)
Central Java, Indonesia
circa 1910
Inventory no.: 585
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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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These Items are available - Ask about an item
Embroidered Sufi Cloak
Egypt
late 19th century
Inventory no.: 1107 RESERVED
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Pair of Princely Gold Thread Zardozi Court Shoes
Northern India
19th century
Inventory no.: 942
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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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Woman's Embroidered Vest (Baju Mesirat)
Gayo or Alas 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 Indonesia 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?
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Warp-Ikat Cotton Man's Cloth (Hinggi Kombu)
East Sumba, Indonesia
early 20th century
Inventory no.: 1737
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Pair of Temple Fans Embellished with Fluorescent Beetle Wings
India
17th-18th century
Inventory no.: 1912
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