Resource Spotlight | “Southeast Asia: A History in Objects” by Alexandra Green

 

Sacred Toraja House Divider | Ampang Bilik
Rantepao, Sulawesi
Early 20th century
Wood, paint
As1992,07.1
© The Trustees of the British Museum

 
 
 

SOUTHEAST ASIA

A History of Objects

 

by Alexandra Green

 
 
 
 

Published by Thames & Hudson.

 
 

A revealing volume on Southeast Asia’s complex histories, expertly told through art objects and cultural artifacts dating from 6,000 years ago to the present.

Created in collaboration with the British Museum, this richly illustrated volume displays the arts, histories, and cultures of Southeast Asia from about 6,000 years ago to the twenty-first century, covering modern-day Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, East Timor, Brunei, the Philippines, and Singapore. The incredible diversity of the region appears through the ancient sculptures of Java, Bagan, Angkor, and Sukhothai, paintings, ceramics, silver, ritual objects, basketry, textiles, and contemporary art.

Featuring the British Museum collection like the other volumes in this series, Southeast Asia: A History in Objects presents engaging texts and expertly curated artifacts. From the early emergence of agricultural communities to the rise of powerful empires and the religions of Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity, and from the age of colonial rule to 20th-century nation-building, every object tells a story in this wide-ranging and accessible selection.

Exploring topics like the monuments of Angkor Wat and Borobudur, the spirits of the Philippines, funerary figures of the Toraja people, the narrative paintings of Bali, and the musical instruments and shadow puppets of Java and Thailand, this volume is an informative visual treat for curious minds, historians, and cultural adventurers everywhere.

Alexandra Green is the Henry Ginsburg Curator for Southeast Asia in the Department of Asia at the British Museum, London.

 
 

Batak Mask
Early 19th century
Wood, copper, animal hair
Donated by S R Robinson in 1895
As1895,0902.13
© The Trustees of the British Museum

Sacred Toraja House Divider | Ampang Bilik
Rantepao, Sulawesi
Early 20th century
Wood, paint
As1992,07.1
© The Trustees of the British Museum

Sword and Sheath
Nias
19th century
Wood, cane, rattan
Donated by Amsterdam Zoological Society in 1871
As.7569.b
© The Trustees of the British Museum

Shadow puppet representing a soldier or knight from the Panji story cycle
Bali
Late 1700s-mid 1800s
Rattan, bamboo, bark, wood
Field collected by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles
Acquired from Haslar Hospital
As.7183
© The Trustees of the British Museum

Shadow puppet of the male clown character Bancak
Central Java
Late 1700s-1816
Gold leaf, horn, and hide
Field collected by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles
Donated by Rev William Charles Raffles Flint in 1859
As1859,1228.579
© The Trustees of the British Museum

Head of Pārvatī
Cambodia
Pre-Angkor | 7th century-early 8th century
Sandstone
Purchased from Spink & Son Ltd.
Funded by Brooke Sewell Permanent Fund
1968,0213.1
© The Trustees of the British Museum

Melanau water spirit figure
Sarawak, Borneo
19th century
Wood
Purchased from Dr. Charles Hose in 1905
As1905,-.637
© The Trustees of the British Museum

House Board
Sarawak, Borneo
19th century
Wood
Purchased from Dr. Charles Hose in 1905
As1905,-.797
© The Trustees of the British Museum

Demon Shadow Puppet identified as Virun Chumbung in the Ramayana
Central Thailand
Before 1920
Wood, hide
Purchased from Sir Sydney Burney in 1929
As1929,0815.3
© The Trustees of the British Museum

Figure of the god Shiva on the back of a bull
Thailand
1850-1894
Bronze and gold
Acquired from Sir Augustus Wollaston Franks in 1894
1894,0926.11
© The Trustees of the British Museum

Kayan tattoo model arm
Sarawak, Borneo
19th century
Wood
Purchased from Dr. Charles Hose in 1905
As1905,-.300
© The Trustees of the British Museum

Calligraphic Batik
Probably Cirebon, Java
Late 19th century-early 20th century
Dyed cotton
Purchased from Michael Backman Ltd in 2019
Funded by Brooke Sewell Permanent Fund
2019,3034.1
© The Trustees of the British Museum

Blue and white dish depicting a mythical half-elephant half-fish creature
Vietnam
1430-1480
Stoneware
Purchased from Kenneth Robinson in 2002
2002,1011.1
© The Trustees of the British Museum

Sword with carved dragon shaped hilt
Nias
Mid 19th century
Metal, wood, brass
Donated by Amsterdam Zoological Society in 1871
As.7569.a
© The Trustees of the British Museum

Hornbill Figure | Kenyalang
Borneo
Early 19th century
Wood, pigment
Donated by Dr. George Darby Haviland in 1894
As1894,0414.1
© The Trustees of the British Museum

Moro Armour ("kurab-a-kulang")
Zamboanga, Philippines
18th century-early 19th century
Buffalo horn, brass
Field collected by Lt Hinds from the HMS Challenger oceanographic expedition of 1872-1876
Donated by Sir Augustus Wollaston Franks in 1876
Previously owned by Bryce McMurdo Wright Sr.
As.9867
© The Trustees of the British Museum

Stone figure of Ganesha
Java
11th century-12th century
Volcanic Stone
Acquired from Charles Millet in 1861
1861,1010.2
© The Trustees of the British Museum

Kayan or Kenyah Cap
Borneo
Early 1850s-1900s
Fish scales, glass beads
Purchased from Dr. Charles Hose in 1908
As1908,0625.1
© The Trustees of the British Museum

Melanau ceremonial figure in the shape of a dragon
Sarawak, Borneo
19th century
Wood
Purchased from Dr. Charles Hose in 1905
As1905,-.785
© The Trustees of the British Museum

Coiled ring in the form of a naga serpent
Burma
19th century
Gold, ruby, sapphire
Bequeathed by Sir Augustus Wollaston Franks
AF.2373
© The Trustees of the British Museum

Seated Male Ancestor Figure | Adu Sihara Salawa
Nias
Circa 1800
Wood
Field collected by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles
Donated by Rev William Charles Raffles Flint in 1859
As1859,1228.168
© The Trustees of the British Museum

War Dance Comb
Ritabel, Maluku
19th century
Wood, inlaid bone
Field collected by Henry Ogg Forbes
Donated by Royal Society in 1883
As,HOF.1
© The Trustees of the British Museum

Lion Figure
Champa, Vietnam
11th century
Sandstone
Purchased from Spink & Son Ltd.
Funded by Brooke Sewell Permanent Fund in 1981
1981,0304.1
© The Trustees of the British Museum

Lamp in the form of a Garuda used in wayang kulit performances
Central Java
Before 1816
Brass
Exchanged with Dr Johannes Hendrik Jager-Gerlings in 1955
As1955,03.1
© The Trustees of the British Museum

Priest’s Container for Magical and Medicinal Paraphernalia | Naga Morsarang
Batak
1800s-1860s
Buffalo horn, bark, wood
Donated by Amsterdam Zoological Society in 1871
As.7555.a
© The Trustees of the British Museum

Seated Buddha Figure (Śākyamuni/Shijiamouni/Shaka)
Burma
Pagan | 1100-1199
Bronze
Purchased from Spink & Son Ltd.
Funded by Brooke Sewell Permanent Fund in 1971
1968,0213.1
© The Trustees of the British Museum

 
 

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