Michael Backman’s Video Reels

Eddie, who works in the Gallery, was given up for adoption to the goddess Guanyin when he was a baby. Here’s why.
_______________________________________________

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝘂𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆: 𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻@𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗹𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗹𝘁𝗱.𝗰𝗼𝗺

𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 & 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗹𝘆 𝗲-𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀. 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗶𝗼.

𝘄𝘄𝘄.𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗹𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗹𝘁𝗱.𝗰𝗼𝗺
_______________________________________________

#michaelbackman #guanyin #chineseculture #overseaschinese #malaysianchinese #chinesetemple #kuanyin #chinesetradition #chinesereligion

Traditional Malay mosques with tiered roofs are being replaced by non-traditional, Saudi Arabian-style mosques due to Saudi influence and money. It’s a different version of cultural bleaching.

_______________________________________________

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝘂𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆: 𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻@𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗹𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗹𝘁𝗱.𝗰𝗼𝗺

𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 & 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗹𝘆 𝗲-𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀. 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗶𝗼.

𝘄𝘄𝘄.𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗹𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗹𝘁𝗱.𝗰𝗼𝗺
_______________________________________________

#michaelbackman #malayarchitecture #malayculture #malayhistory #melayu #malayart #malaysia

A brief intro on Japanese script and how it is partly based on Chinese script. In Tokyo.
_______________________________________________

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝘂𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆: 𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻@𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗹𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗹𝘁𝗱.𝗰𝗼𝗺

𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 & 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗹𝘆 𝗲-𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀. 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗶𝗼.

𝘄𝘄𝘄.𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗹𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗹𝘁𝗱.𝗰𝗼𝗺
_______________________________________________

#kanji #hiragana #katagana #平仮名 #片仮名 #漢字 #modernjapan #japaneseantiques #japaneseculture #japanesehistory #japanesescript #japaneselanguage #japaneseart

Working on our next catalogue already. Our next catalogue will come out in February 2025, but that shouldn’t stop you from browsing on our website at the meantime. Our website is our virtual gallery site that opens 24/7.

#michaelbackman #asianantiquesforsale #indianantiques #asianantiques #asianartlondon #detox #recharge

Early silk production in Dubrovnik, Croatia. The town’s silk worms would be blessed as part of the Feast of the Annunciation, usually in March.
_______________________________________________

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝘂𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆: 𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻@𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗹𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗹𝘁𝗱.𝗰𝗼𝗺

𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 & 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗹𝘆 𝗲-𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀. 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗶𝗼.

𝘄𝘄𝘄.𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗹𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗹𝘁𝗱.𝗰𝗼𝗺
_______________________________________________

#michaelbackman #Dubrovnik #croatia #ethnictextiles #ottomaninfluence #silkworms

Admiring local architecture in Kuala Kangsar, the royal capital of the Malaysian state of Perak, and the seat of the Sultan of Perak, while undertaking research for the book ‘Malay Silver & Gold: Courtly Splendour from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and Thailand ‘.
_______________________________________________

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝘂𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆: 𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻@𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗹𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗹𝘁𝗱.𝗰𝗼𝗺

𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 & 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗹𝘆 𝗲-𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀. 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗶𝗼.

𝘄𝘄𝘄.𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗹𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗹𝘁𝗱.𝗰𝗼𝗺
_______________________________________________

#kualakangsar #kualakangsarperak #michaelbackman #malaysilverandgold #melayu #malayculture #malayarchitecture #traditionalhouse #perak

Taking part in the panel of discussion for the book launch of ‘Provenance and Possession: Acquisitions from the Portuguese Empire in Renaissance Italy’ written by Professor K. J. P. Lowe, published by Princeton University Press this year.

#booklaunch #newbook #goodread #provenanceandpossession #michaelbackman #asianartlondon

Our last catalogue in 2024 is now available on our website. For all our subscribers, please check your email to view the catalogue. Alternatively, visit our website by clicking the bio link right now.

Good objects won’t wait unfortunately, in this case.

#asianantiques #asianartlondon #michaelbackmangallery #selectedfinest #finestantiques #islamicart #colonialart #moroccanantiques #moroccanjewelry

Music: Space - French Fuse

Introducing one of the rarest objects that we have the privilege to handle in our London gallery: a long Berber necklace with large amber beads from Ait Yazza Village, Draa Valley Region, Morocco. In complete and original condition and weighing almost a kilogram!

Available now as part of the 40 objects in our November 2024 catalogue.

#moroccanantiques #moroccanjewellery #wearablejewelry #antiquejewellery #ambernecklace #amberbeads #ethnicjewelry #ethnicadornment

Music: La Yadoum Igtirabi - Fairuz

The wait is over!

Our final catalogue for 2024 is available now on our website.

#raretreasures #moroccanjewelry #tibetanantiques #burmesesilver #burmeseantiques #ibejitwins

This reel was recorded earlier this year in Kuala Lumpur. I am interested in all things Malay - not just Malay silver but also Malaysian politics. The subject of this reel, former Malaysian finance minister Daim Zainuddin, passed away a fortnight ago. He was one of the most successful Malay entrepreneurs, politicians and policymakers that Malaysia has ever produced. He should be celebrated by all Malaysians. Instead, he was harassed by the current government as part of an ongoing political vendetta and subject to much innuendo in his final year. And yet it was he who severed the link between wealth and race in multi-racial Malaysia both by example and in his policy making. The racial harmony that Malaysia now enjoys is a direct result of the economic policies of Daim.

#malayculture #daimzainuddin #malaysianpolitics #michaelbackman #melayu #tundaim

The Terengganu State Museum, on the east coast of Malaysia. It has a splendid collection of Malay cultural items but receives relatively few visitors, which is a great pity because it is excellent.
_______________________________________________

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝘂𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆: 𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻@𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗹𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗹𝘁𝗱.𝗰𝗼𝗺

𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 & 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗹𝘆 𝗲-𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀. 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗶𝗼.

𝘄𝘄𝘄.𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗹𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗹𝘁𝗱.𝗰𝗼𝗺
_______________________________________________

#muziumnegeriterengganu #michaelbackman #tanahmelayu #malaysilverandgold #malayantiques #pusakamelayu #statemuseum #asianantiques #londonasianart #malayculture #malayarts

Speaking at the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, last weekend on ‘Malay Silver & Gold: Courtly Splendour from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and Thailand’ - published by River Books @riverbooksbk and available worldwide. The event was organised by the dynamic KVVAK.

#michaelbackman #rijksmuseum #melayu #malayculture #malayhistory #malaysilverandgold #malaysilver #sumatranantiques #malaysia #regalia

The roaming deer of Nara, Japan, are in sympathy with Shintoism, which stresses the natural and a belief in forest and mountain deities, but also evoke the attentive deer who listened to the Buddha’s sermon at Sarnath, India.
_______________________________________________

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝘂𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆: 𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻@𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗹𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗹𝘁𝗱.𝗰𝗼𝗺

𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 & 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗹𝘆 𝗲-𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀. 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗶𝗼.

𝘄𝘄𝘄.𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗹𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗹𝘁𝗱.𝗰𝗼𝗺
_______________________________________________

#michaelbackman #nara #deer #sarnath #japanesebuddhism #shintoism

Getting ready to speak this last weekend at the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, to promote my book ‘Malay Silver and Gold’ published by River Books @riverbooksbk. The lecture was organised by the Royal Asian Art Society in the Netherlands (KVVAK) which does so much to preserve and promote Asian art heritage, preserving it for future generations no matter where they might be.

#michaelbackman #malaysilverandgold #riverbooks #kvvak #rijksmuseum #malayculture #indonesianantiques #indonesianculture

Delighted to participate in this promo video for the Monde des Arts de la Parure, Marrakesh, Morocco, which houses a splendid and large collection of North African, Middle Eastern and Asian personal adornment. It is well with spending several hours at the museum, which has beautiful architecture, an outstanding collection plus an excellent restaurant on its rooftop.

#michaelbackman #antiqueveils #antiquetextiles #islamictextiles #moroccantextiles #personaladornment #ethnicjewellery #ethniccostume #Moroccanantiques #marrakechmuseum #marrakeshmuseum #mondedesartsdelaparure

Signing copies of ‘Malay Silver & Gold: Courtly Splendour from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and Thailand’(@riverbooksbk) at the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, this weekend.

#michaelbackman #asianantiques #melayu #malayculture #malayarts #riverbooks #malaysilverandgold #tanahmelayu

signing at Rijksmuseum.

School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, handling session in our London gallery. Always tremendous fun and a great opportunity to share knowledge.

#michaelbackman #soas #asianartlondon #artlearning #arthistory

A 9th century bronze image of Buddha produced in India and exported to Java, Indonesia currently displayed in the British Museum’s Silk Roads exhibition, and a similar example we have on offer in our gallery.
_______________________________________________

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝘂𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆: 𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻@𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗹𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗹𝘁𝗱.𝗰𝗼𝗺

𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 & 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗹𝘆 𝗲-𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀. 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗶𝗼.

𝘄𝘄𝘄.𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗹𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗹𝘁𝗱.𝗰𝗼𝗺
_______________________________________________

#michaelbackman #indonesiansntiques #indianantiques #indianbuddha #gupta #buddha #buddhism #srivijaya

Enjoying local bissara soup in Rabat, Morocco.

#michaelbackman #moroccanculture #rabat #moroccanfood #moroccanantiques #moroccancuisine