Asian Decor: Buddha Statues, Burmese Antiques & Textiles

December 4th, 2013

We recently acquired some wonderful Asian antiques now listed in the gallery including Buddha statues, lacquerware, bronze bells, ceramics and textiles, mostly from Burma. Sometimes it’s difficult to fully appreciate pieces offered in the gallery without the opportunity of seeing them in a home setting so we are displaying them here to provide a sense of context.

Asian Home Decor with Antique Buddha Statue, Monk & Lacquerware
Asian Home Decor with Antique Buddha Statue, Monk & Lacquerware

Displayed here are an antique wood carving statue of the Buddha and a monk as well as an antique lacquerware vessel know in Burma as kun-it. Burmese artisans are well known for their expertise in wood carving. The tradition of lacquerware is centuries old in Burma and a great variety of vessels exist. They can be made from bamboo, rattan, or  jackfruit wood which are then applied with several layers of natural and pigmented lacquer which is then decorated with an iron stylus using various motifs.

Asian Home Decor: Buddha Statue, Bronze Bell, Lacquerware Box
Asian Home Decor: Buddha Statue, Bronze Bell, Lacquerware Box

This entry incorporates both European and Asian influences without a conflict in aesthetics. With a little experimentation, Asian and European decor can complement and contrast one another beautifully.

Asian Decor: Dining Room Decorated with Burmese & Thai Antiques
Asian Decor: Dining Room Decorated with Burmese & Thai Antiques

This exotic dining room incorporates a cane dining setting decorated with a silk runner and 15thC Swanakhalok shipwreck jar. In the background are a decorated Burmese lacquered panel and sideboard upon which sits an antique bronze elephant bell, antique Burmese ox cart ornament and antique monk wood carving. And most precious of all, Lilly getting her beauty sleep.

Buddhist Art from Burma
Buddhist Art from Burma

Mirrors bring light and depth into rooms, reflecting colour and art work , and creating shifting visual effects. Featured in this photo is a rare Shan Buddha statue carved from wood, lacquered and then gilded. Beside the Buddha are a monk and lacquer-ware box. On the wall hangs a painting by a Laotian artist and reflected in the mirror is an antique Lisu hill tribe silver necklace.

This photo shows a wider view of the dining room with the addition of a pink orchid. Orchids are surely one of the most exquisite members of the botanical world and lend themselves to creating a relaxing Eastern ambiance.

Asian Decor: Living Room Decorated with Asian Antiques and Etching by Thai Artist

This living room features a collection of Burmese antiques and an etching by Thai artist, Vorakorn Metmanorom. The timber, furnishings and lighting used help create a warm atmosphere.

Asian Interiors
Asian Interiors

Another shot of the dining room with the concertina doors opened. Decorative pieces include a Burmese Chin runner, Burmese lacquer-ware, Buddha statue with attendant monks and Chinese overhanging gilded frame.

The decor items featured in these photos are available at the time of posting and represent just a small selection of the Asian antiques, art, silk and tribal textiles, as well as collectibles available in the gallery.

Asian Decor & Home Decorating Ideas

June 9th, 2011

Asian home decor has been recognized in the West as one of the most inspiring styles of interior design. Asian decor evokes a sense of serenity and at the same time stirs the soul . The Eastern aesthetic draws on thousands of years of history and is profoundly influenced by religious beliefs based on the ideal of absolute freedom. In Southeast Asia, Buddhism is a major source of inspiration for artistic expression and has produced wonderful works of art.

A few well chosen pieces of Asian art, artefacts or textiles can transform the ambiance of a room, rendering it a place of sanctuary and a respite from the cacophony of the world and its many demands. Unlike factory produced furnishings, Asian art, antiques and artefacts echo age old artistic traditions and have a certain indefinable ‘chi’ or energy that is tacitly felt.
 

Given that we spend much of our life in the home, it’s important to create an interior environment that is soothing and enlivens one’s imagination. A considered investment in Asian home decor can be one of the most rewarding in terms of home decorating. Conversely, it can lead to some of the gaudiest home decor when cheap and tacky decorations are chosen over the genuine article.

Featured below is a small collection of photos featuring art, antiques, tribal artefacts and textiles offered in our gallery.

Antique Buddha and Monks Wood Carving
Antique Buddha and Monks: Wood Carving
Lao Silk, Bronze Bell, Bronze Buddha, Antique Lanna Vase
Framed Silk Kimono, Burmese Lacquer kun-it, Lao Silk, Antique Bronze Bell, Antique Bronze Buddha, Antique Lanna Vase
Lao Silk, Cambodian Sculpture, Bronze Bell
Lao Silk, Cambodian Sculpture, Bronze Bell, Framed Buddhist Sutras
Antique Burmese Bell, Antique Thai Buddha, Antique Lanna Vase
Lao Silk, Antique Burmese Bell, Antique Thai Buddha, Antique Lanna Vase
Lao Silk, Burmese Bell, Japanese Style Buddha, Teppanom Angel
Lao Silk, Burmese Bell, Japanese Style Buddha, Teppanom Angel
Antique Buddhist Aureole
Antique Buddhist Aureole
Burmese Lacquerware
Burmese Lacquerware

Asian Antiques from Burma and Thailand

February 23rd, 2011

It’s no secret that authentic Asian antiques are becoming increasingly difficult to locate. Older antique dealers in Thailand often reminisce about times long gone by when you could buy Burmese opium weights in kilo bags for a song and old Burmese lacquerware was stacked up to the ceiling in their shops. The popularity of Asian antiques in America and Europe over the past few decades has led to a steady decline in supply in the region. Rare styles of opium weights, antique bronze bells, larger antique bronze sculptures and artefacts in general are all requiring a little more time and effort to track down. That being said, we recently returned from a trip during which we acquired several impressive new items from Burma and Thailand that we would like to feature.

Antique Burmese Lacquerware
Antique Burmese Lacquerware

Featured here are two large Burmese lacquerware vessels known as pyi-daung that were once used to carry offerings of rice to Buddhist temples and in the middle, a rare antique gold gilded Buddhist manuscript known as kammavaca that was presented to the Buddhist temple when a young monk ordained. View our Lacquerware Collection

Burmese Opium Weights
Burmese Opium Weights

Here are three rare forms of Burmese ‘opium weights’ dating back to the 1600s. These bronze zoomorphic figurines were used to weigh a variety of materials including precious metals, spices and medicines. They have become popular collectibles and represent a bygone era in Burmese history with production ceasing during the 1800s while under British rule. View our Opium Weight Collection

Antique Bronze Bells
Antique Bronze Bells

Three antique bells from the 19th century- the spherical bell is an elephant bell while the other two are pastoral bells, once used to help locate grazing livestock. Like virtually all Burmese utilitarian objects, they were created with mindfulness towards aesthetics. View our Bronze Bell Collection

Antique Bronze Buddha Statues

The three Buddha statues seen here are from Thailand and all are seated in the ‘earth witnessing posture’ representing the moment of the Buddha’s enlightenment when he touched the ground to bear witness to his awakening to Absolute Reality. The first two statues are in the Chiang Saen style of northern Siam while the third is in the Sukhothai style, characterized by the flame-like halo. View our Buddhist Art Collection

Antique Thai Ceramics
Antique Thai Ceramics

The antique ceramic pieces here are from Thailand – the blue glaze pieces are in La Na style (former northern kingdom) while the celadon plate is from 16th century Sukhothai, which was a major hub of ceramic production at the time.

Antique Buddhist Manuscript Box
Antique Buddhist Manuscript Box
Antique Elephant Bell, Burmese Kinnara, Monk Wood Carving
Antique Elephant Bell, Burmese Kinnara, Monk Wood Carving
Antique Buddhist Gilded Wood Carving
Antique Buddhist Gilded Wood Carving

Please click on the photos to be redirected to the listing with further details. The items featured in this blog represent just a few of the antiques from Burma and Thailand listed in our gallery so   browse our collections and if there is anything of particular interest to you please email us at info@sabaidesignsgallery.com