The Shan Culture, Art and Crafts |
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The Shan States are uniquely situated at the crossroads of inland Southeast Asia and are bordered by China, Burma (Myanmar) and Thailand. The author begins by tracing the history of the Shan people and the royal families who ruled from the thirteenth century to the middle of the twentieth century. She has travelled extensively throughout the Shan States to photograph Buddhist temples and monuments, and secular architecture in the villages and towns. This lavishly illustrated book also focuses on fine art and crafts, including Buddhist mural paintings, textiles, furniture, lacquer ware, silverware, pottery and basketry. The author includes original archival material in the form of historic photographs of life in the Shan States at the end of the nineteenth century. The book is an important contribution to our knowledge of the Shan people and how they have contributed to the culture of inland Southeast Asia. |
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Thai Textiles |
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This book is an excellent introduction to the weaving
traditions of Thailand. The book begins with an ethnic and
historical survey of the peoples of Thailand, their religious and
social traditions, and the role textiles play in all aspects of
life. Two chapters deal with the arts of silk and cotton production
and spinning weaving and dyeing techniques. The book then examines Thai dress and weaving patterns and their regional variations. The book is beautifully illustrated with the author�s own photographs, taken during a year and a half spent in the villages of Thailand. In this, fourth in the British Museum's series on ethnographic textiles, Conway presents the reader with an excellent account of Thai weaving, its history and its significant role in the rituals of religious, court, urban and rural life. Hers is a clear and systematic account, with two chapters devoted to the cultural background, two on the techniques of yarn and cloth production, two on end-uses (costume, and ceremonial and household textiles) and three which examine regional distinctions. There is also a well though-out glossary. |
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Tai Textiles in the Mekong region - Continuity and change |
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Susan Conway was a contributor to this exhibit book. The exhibition explored the beauty and diversity of textiles made by Tai women from Laos, Thailand, China and Vietnam, drawing on collections from these four countries. The delicate and skilful techniques used in Tai textiles were reveealed through 80 carefully selected objects which were all testimony to the Tai women weavers' important role in social life. The exhibition addressed the continuity of this vital tradition as it faced the challenges of the modern market and mass produced goods. |
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Thailand Weaving and the Rice Cycle |
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This small informative book accompanied the
exhibition �Thailand: Weaving and the Rice Cycle�, the first major
exhibition of Thai textiles held in Britain. |
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Silken Threads Lacquer Thrones | |||||||||
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In this lavishly illustrated book the author traces the history
of court dress, textiles and regalia at the inland courts of
Southeast Asia. See also:
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Power Dressing: Lanna Shan Siam |
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This book accompanied the first exhibition �Power
Dressing� held at the James W. Thompson Museum, Bangkok Thailand. It
makes an important contribution to the understanding of dress and
politics in Burma (Myanmar) the Shan States, Thailand and China in
the 19th century. The book is written in Thai and English and is
illustrated with court dress, textiles and regalia, and rare 19th
century court photographs
See also: |
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