Burmese master silversmiths produced a magnificent body of work from the
mid-19th to the early 20th centuries - the Burmese Silver Age. This
aesthetic and functional work is characterized by a unique decorative
style and superb technical artistry. Many of the artefacts are
embellished with mysterious visual narratives drawn from ancient
religious and mythological sources, communicating spiritual beliefs and
values that resonate to this day. Burmese silverwork is a distinct and
little-known genre of silver art. This book tackles this obscurity by
illuminating and describing for the first time 100 Burmese silver
artefacts in a stunning photographic gallery. This silverwork - from the
Noble Silver Collection - represents some of the rarest and finest
quality work from the Burmese Silver Age.The centerpiece gallery of
silverwork masterpieces is bookended by two well-illustrated and
informative chapters that provide readers with deeper insights into
Burmese silverwork: a robust frame of reference chapter summarizes the
2,000-year history and cultural tradition of Burmese silverwork; and a
chapter following the gallery deciphers the complex and allegorical
iconography of the decoration, which gives the reader a deeper
appreciation of its religious and cultural meaning and origin.This book
captures the great, almost mystical, allure of Burmese silverwork - from
the sublime artistry of the decoration, to the extraordinary skill of
the silversmith and the profound meaning and importance of the visual
narratives. In doing so, Burmese Silver Art takes its place as a
definitive reference work for any art historian, collector, expert,
student, or general reader interested in this hitherto-overlooked body
of noble art.
