In 1686 King Louis XIV of France had the great Hall of Mirrors in Versailles specially prepared to receive, with exceptional pomp and ceremony, a group of foreign envoys. The envoys brought with them two shiploads of gifts for the court. In fact they delivered so many objects of gold, silver, and lacquer the French complained that their list would be as long as a book. The envoys had been sent from the kingdom of Ayutthaya, or "Siam," as it was know in the West. Though little remembered today, Ayutthaya was one of the largest and most important kingdoms in Southeast Asia. The Kingdom of Siam: The Art of Central Tahiland, 1350û1800 documents the first U.S. exhibition of classical art from Thailand in more than thirty years. It collects eighty-nine of the finest surviving works from Ayutthaya; drawn from collections in Thailand, Europe, and the United States, many of these are being displayed for the first time in the West. The catalogue, prepared under the primary direction of Forrest McGill, chief curator of the Asian Art Museum, is not only a work of exceptional scholarship but also the fascinating story of a once-glorious culture that until now had been almost entirely lost in the mists of time.

Kingdom of Siam: The Art of Central Thailand, 1350-1800

Arts & Photography

Chirapravati, M.L. Pattaratorn

McGill, Forrest

History & Criticism

Asian Art Museum

This lavishly illustrated catalogue of artworks from Thailand and Burma provides an introduction to one of Asia's richest and least known artistic traditions. Focusing primarily on decorative and religious objects from the nineteenth century (along with some earlier and later works), the art book brings to light the lively, yet often strained, interchange between the regions of central and northern Thailand (Siam) and Burma. Thailand and Burma are neighboring countries that are approximately the same size in area and population and have many cultural features in common. Yet they have traditionally been adversaries. This book explores some of the elements that have both drawn the countries together and driven them apart. It contains incisive essays by leading scholars as well as detailed entries relating to nearly 150 spectacular works of art—on view at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco from October 23, 2009, through January 10, 2010—many of which have never before been on public display in the West. While representing the latest art historical scholarship, the book is intended for the general public. It will be of interest to anyone intrigued by such luxuriant and spectacular artworks as gilded and mirrored ritual vessels, black lacquer and mother-of-pearl inlaid furniture, and vibrant, colorful paintings. To many, these objects will convey something of the exotic and exuberant ambiance captured in romantic travel books and films such as The King and I. To browse these pages is to be transported, by artworks that are by turns opulent, reverent, and whimsical, to a lost time and place, one unlike any other.

Emerald Cities: Arts of Siam and Burma 1775-1950

McGill, Dr. Forrest

Reference

Emerald Cities is a lavishly illustrated catalog of artworks from Thailand and Burma, and provides an introduction to one of Asia's richest and least known artistic traditions. Focusing primarily on decorative and religious objects from the nineteenth century, Emerald Cities brings to light the lively, yet often strained, interchange between the regions of central and northern Thailand (Siam) and Burma. While representing the latest art historical scholarship, Emerald Cities is also an accessible entry into the world of Thailand and Burma, and highlights such luxuriant and spectacular artworks as gilded and mirrored ritual vessels, black lacquer and mother-of-pearl inlaid furniture, and vibrant, colorful paintings. These objects convey an exotic and exuberant ambiance which transports the reader to a lost time and place, one unlike any other.

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Books by Chirapravati, M.L. Pattaratorn

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Chirapravati, M.L. Pattaratorn. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Kingdom of Siam: The Art of Central Thailand, 1350-1800

Emerald Cities: Arts of Siam and Burma 1775-1950

Emerald Cities: Arts of Siam and Burma 1775-1950