The Arts and Crafts of Myanmar: The Indian Museum Collection

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Myanmar, that is Burma before 1989, is known world wide as the ‘Land of Pagodas’. For about a millennium the country’s dominating religion is Buddhism, and the people are following a way of life inspired by the humanizing teachings of Gautama Buddha. Their arts and crafts, motivated by the spirit of the same religion, bear certain characteristics which are distinct from those of the other Southeast Asian countries. The Indian Museum possesses one of the richest collections of Burmese arts and crafts outside Myanmar. The collection, accumulated in course of about one hundred years since the Museum’s foundation in 1814, was mostly so long languishing in the secured reserves. Now, for the first time, the Museum is exposing it in its entirety to the art lovers of this and other countries by publishing this monograph. The monograph introduces the objects in the following categories : sculpture, textile, lacquerwork, ceramics, metal work, musical instruments and miscellaneous objects. The survey not only deals with their techniques and styles, but also relates them to the socio-religious life of the Burmese people. A comprehensively illustrated catalogue of the objects has been added to provide the reader with ready reference. More significantly, the monograph amply marks the personality of Burmese creative genius as expressed in orderly forms and luminous colours of their arts and crafts.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Asok K Bhattacharya

Dr. Asok K. Bhattacharya, formerly of the Department of Ancient Indian History and Culture, Calcutta University, is an eminent art historian, specializing in the area of Indian art and architecture. He writes in Bengali and English, both for general readers and experts in the subject. He has served many Universities and Central and State Government institutions as an expert in art and antiquity. At present he is a vice-president of The Asiatic Society, trustee of Indian Museum and Bangiya Sahitya Parishad, member of West Bengal Heritage Committee, and adviser of the Directorate of State Archaeology and Museums. He has published many books and articles in learned journals and volumes, including A Comprehensive History of India, Jaina Art and Architecture, Bangalpedia or Encyclopaedia of Bangladesh and Bengal: Sites and Sights (Marg). Some of his monographs are Chitralakshana: A Treatise on Indian Painting (1974),Technique of Indian Painting (1976), East Indian Bronzes (Co-author) (1979), The Jhewari Bronze Buddhas: A Historical and Stylistic Study (1987), Calcutta Paintings (1994), Banglar Chitrakala (in Bangali) (1994), Jamini Roy (An Album) (1996) and Rakhaldas Bandyopadhyay (1999).