Oriental Silverwork - Malay and Chinese - A Handbook for Connoisseurs, Collectors, Students and Silversmiths

The Malays with their fondness for everything bright and beautiful have captured, in silver, in an infinite variety of utensils, their inherent sensitivity to harmonious form and design, while Chinese decorative art is very far-reaching. Chinese silver craftsmanship in the Archipelago falls into four divisions - solid and vigorous; delicate; imitative of Malay work; and quietly elegant. The articles of Malay and Chinese silverwork illustrated in this book form a collection which is representative of the silversmith's art as it existed in the Malay Archipelago. There are over 250 original illustrations of saucers, cups, pillow plates, belt buckles, tobacco and sireh boxes and many others, thus making this a useful and delightful handbook for connoisseurs, collectors, students and silversmiths.