Art Asia from Orchid Press

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 1993. Bhutanese textiles remained an unknown tradition until Barbara Adams published her pioneering study in 1984. The book remains a classic on the subject, having been reprinted several times. The book is richly illustrated with both antique and modern examples of this unique tradition, which comprises both woven and applique textiles. The continuous and discontinuous supplementary weft… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2005. The artist Sappho Marchal was the daughter of the renowned French conservator of Angkor, Henri Marchal. She spent the early years of her life in Cambodia, surrounded by the magnificent ruins of the Khmers, and produced the present study at age 23. Her fine line drawings present the myriad details of ornament and costume depicted… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2014. The 19th century was one of the most tumultuous in recent Burmese history, encompassing as it did three brutal wars between British and Burmese forces. The outcome of these conflicts, as well as of a series of bloody internal rebellions and murderous court intrigues, was the humiliating annexation first of the southern part of the country,… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2005. Growing interest in tantric Buddhism worldwide has resulted in an explosion of literature on the subject; despite this, there still remain many voids in our understanding of this complex practice, with its proliferation of gods and saints, bodhisattvas and demons. R. H. van Gulik was one of the pioneer Western scholars of the tantric deities, having… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2006. The great Song Dynasty poet and artist, Mi Fu (1051-1107), wrote treatises on painting and calligraphy, in addition to the present work on inkstones, translated here by the eminent Dutch diplomat and Sinologist, Dr. R H van Gulik. In the case of the first two works, the subjects of Mi Fu's deliberations have long since disappeared.… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 1995. More than entertainment, Burmese marionettes were used as a means of educating the audience in literature, history, religion, customs and current events. A portrayal of a rich tradition now on the brink of extinction. 108 pp., 101 colour plates, glossary. An unread copy, with small mark (glue residue?) on front cover, page borders lightly tanned. Otherwise… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2006. The great Song Dynasty poet and artist, Mi Fu (1051-1107), wrote treatises on painting and calligraphy, in addition to the present work on inkstones, translated here by the eminent Dutch diplomat and Sinologist, Dr. R H van Gulik. In the case of the first two works, the subjects of Mi Fu's deliberations have long since disappeared.… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press/Weatherhill, 2001. The first and only comprehensive study of the history and civilization of the vanished kingdom of Arakan, now part of western coastal Burma. Mentioned in Ptolemy's 2nd century AD Geography, Arakan was, from earliest times, a cosmopolitan state with a vigourous and complex culture. Indian Brahmins conducted the royal rituals, Buddhist monks spread their teaching, traders… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2003. Describes a selection of early travellers' impressions of the Khmer empire's ancient 12th century capital and the legends that inspired the majestic stone temples of Angkor, which a visitor in the 1920's declared 'the most impressive sight in the world of edifices'. The work brings to the reader many out-of-print impressions of early Western travellers and… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 1986. A compendium of Chinese creativity, as it was applied to the implements of war. The author, a renowned Sinologist, traces the origins and development of a wide array of weaponry. Reprint of the Shanghai 1932 edition. vi, 102 pp., including 59 pages of b&w illustrations. Soft Cover. As New. 26 x 19 cm.

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2005. Eastern Tibet, including the historic territories of Kham and Amdo, may rightfully claim to be the cradle of Tibetan culture. As early as the first millennium of our era, Eastern Tibet was of international relevance, as three branches of the Silk Road passed through its borders. A result of its role as a crossroad and meeting… Read more about this item

Warminster: Aris & Phillips, 1986. This classic study was the first comprehensive work on the subject, and provides an analysis of the weaving techniques in detail, classifies the various types of carpet and designs and illustrates in colour many fine examples from private collections. Hardbound in gold stamped green cloth. A new/unread copy. x, 102 pp., 24 colour and 83… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2004. Since Cambodia's reopening to the world in the past dozen years, following its genocidal civil war, there has been a burgeoning interest in its history, art and architectural relics. In parallel with this growing popular interest has been a renewal of international scholarly work and corresponding publication on the Khmers. However, virtually without exception, these either… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 1998. A meticulous photographic and descriptive record of the theft of religious art from the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, over the past 20 years, and a damning indictment of the international art thieves who were the perpetrators. Of particular emotional impact are the many "before" and "after" shots of the desecrated sites. 212 pp., 186 colour and… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2000. This study describes the origins of lacquer in Burma, the lacquer process, techniques of decoration, and design motifs, followed by a detailed description of the myriad of lacquerware vessels and other forms produced for secular, religious and ceremonial application. Concludes with a consideration of current lacquerware production centers in Burma and museum collections of Burmese lacquer… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2002. Until well into the eighth century, Bön was the dominant religion and culture on the roof of the world; it is in essence the belief system of ancient Tibet. From the second half of the eighth century onward, Bön was superseded by Buddhism, which had traveled north from India, and the two religions came to influence… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2001. The farmer-potters of Shigaraki, a rural valley outside of Kyoto, have used distinctive local clays to produce fine wood fired stoneware for over 700 years. This classic study brings together all facets of the valley's fascinating political, economic and artistic history to present a comprehensive portrait of these appealing wares and the artisans who produced them.… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2000. The autobiographical account of the extraordinary career and travels of scholar/author David Snellgrove, spanning his explorations of Central, South and Southeast Asian cultures over a period of 56 years. 587 pp., 65 colour and 178 b&w plates, 17 maps. First Edition. Hard Cover. New/new. 24.5 x 17.5 cm.

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 1998. Full subtitle : "The Oral tradition from the Land of Zhangzhung Depicted on Two Tibetan Paintings". In this pioneering work, the author analyses two rare Tibetan thangkas, enabling him to shed light on the history and theory of a little known meditative discipline practised by adherents of the ancient Bon religion. xix, 120 pp., 68… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 1995. Description of the southern Thai popular tradition of shadow theatre and its differences with the central Thai classical school; illustrated with 147 examples of shadow figures from two Thai and two Swedish collections. 109 pp., 79 colour and 68 b&w illustrations, bibliography, index.. First Edition. Hard Cover. New/new. 21 x 19 cm.