Michael Backman: Art History & Material Culture

Narisa Chakrabongse is the product of an English mother and a Thai prince. She is the founder of the publishing house River Books, founder of the boutique hotel Chakrabongse Villas in Bangkok, and the author of many books. In this podcast recorded in Bangkok at Chakrabongse House, Michael Backman discusses with Narisa her dual life as both a typical central London resident, and a descendent of Sia...

Michael Backman and Paul Bromberg are both collectors of Asian art. One is based in London, the other in Bangkok. In this episode they discuss the thrill of collecting art objects. How does one choose what to buy when faced with many alternatives? How does one decide how much money to put into one's collection? Is it really an investment, or money thrown away?  These and other dilemmas typica...

Paul Bromberg discusses with Michael Backman his new book Later Chinese Bronzes for the Scholar’s Studio. The book focuses on later bronze objects from the Song dynasty (960–1279) onwards, both utilitarian and for the scholar’s aesthetic pleasure, produced for the scholar’s studio. The book makes ample uses of examples from his own splendid collection, and considers separately the various forms, h...

This is the final of eight episodes in which Michael Backman tells the story of the Malay people - their history, their rulers, their culture & their traditions - through the beautiful items of gold and silver that were made for the Malay sultans and the Malay aristocrats.  This episode looks at the process of writing a book such as 'Malay Silver and Gold' and getting it published -...

This is the seventh of eight episodes in which Michael Backman tells the story of the Malay people - their history, their rulers, their culture & their traditions - through the beautiful items of gold and silver that were made for the Malay sultans and the Malay aristocrats.  This episode looks at various objects made from silver and gold specifically used by the Malays - betel or sirih sets,...

This is the sixth of eight episodes in which Michael Backman tells the story of the Malay people - their history, their rulers, their culture & their traditions - through the beautiful items of gold and silver that were made for the Malay sultans and the Malay aristocrats.  This episode looks at how the Malays mastered gold filigree work to the point that their work arguably is the finest gold...

This is the fifth of eight episodes in which Michael Backman tells the story of the Malay people - their history, their rulers, their culture & their traditions - through the beautiful items of gold and silver that were made for the Malay sultans and the Malay aristocrats.  This episode looks at the jewellery, and the objects made from silver and gold for traditional, elaborate and lengthy Mal...

This is the fourth of eight episodes in which Michael Backman tells the story of the Malay people - their history, their rulers, their culture & their traditions - through the beautiful items of gold and silver that were made for the Malay sultans and the Malay aristocrats.  This episode looks at the Malay sultans and their regalia.  More broadly, this series looks at how Malay silver and gold...

This is the third of eight episodes in which Michael Backman tells the story of the Malay people - their history, their rulers, their culture & their traditions - through the beautiful items of gold and silver that were made for the Malay sultans and the Malay aristocrats.  This episode looks at the techniques used by Malay silversmiths, and from where they drew inspiration for their motifs, i...

This is the second of eight episodes in which Michael Backman tells the story of the Malay people - their history, their rulers, their culture & their traditions - through the beautiful items of gold and silver that were made for the Malay sultans and the Malay aristocrats.  This particular episode looks at how late 19th century and early 20th century collecting influenced what types of Malay...

This is the first of eight episodes in which Michael Backman tells the story of the Malay people - their history, their rulers, their culture & their traditions - through the beautiful items of gold and silver that were made for the Malay sultans and the Malay aristocrats.  More broadly, this series looks at how Malay silver and gold items were made, what types of items were produced, the moti...

What is it like to be an 'independent' scholar & researcher? Three published art historians who are tell. Annemarie Jordan and Hugo Miguel Crespo in conversation with Michael Backman on what it is like to being published researchers and art historians but doing it outside the structure of a university, museum or other institutional organisation. Annemarie Jordan is the author of many...

Dr Sigrid van Roode discusses her research into the Zar spirit possession cult of Egypt - a relatively new cult that emerged at the end of 19th century and still has many practitioners. The cult gave rise to the need for a specific form of jewellery - a practice that has only recently died out. Visit Michael Backman Ltd's gallery website.

Graham Honeybill has been a banker most of his adult life, rising to become CEO of a bank in the UAE. He has also been a collector for much of his life. Colonial Burmese silver has long been a passion. A book has just been published on his collection and he has lent several pieces to an exhibition on Burmese art at the British Museum. Surely the pinnacle of any collector's collecting career?...

Dr Annemarie Jordan is one of the world's most important, independent scholars on  luxury goods imported to Europe from Asia during the Renaissance. The trade in such goods is fascinating and much of it was destined for Europe's royal families who delighted in exotica from faraway lands for whom possession of such items was a mark of their power and prestige. In this podcast, Dr Jordan d...

Fiona Kerlogue, one of the world's leading authorities on Indonesian Batik, former senior curator at London's Horniman Museum and author discusses with Michael Backman her career, being a curator, and her latest book on a little-known Batik collection in Prague,  in the Czech Republic. Visit Michael Backman Ltd's gallery website.

Thweep Rittinaphakorn's new book 'Unseen Burma'  presents a rare and stunning photographic record of Burma during the period 1862-1962. In this podcast with Michael Backman, he discusses his motivations for writing the book and his research methods, and discusses Burma's recent history, as well as touching on its current problems. Visit Michael Backman Ltd's gallery websit...

In this Podcast, Michael Backman, writer and gallerist, asks why are we attracted to items that have antiquity? Do such items have a sacredness, or are we attempting to tap into some version of immortality. Is this why we pay more for items with good patina? He looks at the role of collecting and collectors in the preservation of the world's material culture. Visit Michael Backman Ltd's...

Istanbul-based Oytun Evliyazade Camcigil, the author of the magnificent volume 'Eastern Treasures: Ottoman, Oman, Yemen, Turkmen Jewellery' discusses with Michael Backman the process of writing her book, collecting Middle Eastern jewellery and Istanbul's collecting scene.  'Eastern Treasures: Ottoman, Oman, Yemen, Turkmen Jewellery'  is available on Amazon. Visit Michael B...

Robyn Flemming discusses with Michael Backman her new book 'Skinful: A Memoir of Addiction' which details her battles with addictive behaviour including her problematic relationship with alcohol. Originally from Australia, Robyn also discusses her life as a modern-day international nomad, having no specific base in any particular country. 'Skinful: A Memoir of Addiction' is ava...

Michael Backman discusses Straits Chinese jewellery - the jewellery of the acculturated Chinese of Malaysia & Singapore - with world-renown jewellery designer, author & researcher Edmond Chin. Edmond, originally from Singapore is the author of the ground-breaking 'Gilding the Phoenix: The Straits Chinese and their Jewellery'. Visit Michael Backman Ltd's gallery website.

Are collectors addicts by another name? What makes (some) people collect? Is it gross materialism or an attempt to save the world's patrimony? In this episode, Michael Backman and Paul Bromberg, both collectors and both authors of books on art and antiques discuss why they think they do what they do. Many of the quandaries -  choices in the face of constraints, endless problems of storage; an...

Michael Backman & Sarah Corbett compare and contrast two objects: a Tuareg pectoral ornament from northern Africa; and a Minangkabau cast brass cash box from Sumatra. What are the links between these seemingly unrelated objects? Listen to find out the surprising answer. Visit Michael Backman Ltd's gallery website.

Traditional forms of currency used in Africa before the arrival of notes and coins took on extraordinary and large forms. Some were examples were as big as a person. Michael Backman and Sarah Corbett discuss how these currencies evolved, and their place in the canon of African art today. www.michaelbackmanltd.com

Michael Backman & Sarah Corbett compare and contrast two objects: an ancient limestone burial jar from the southern Philippines, and a set of Tibetan prayer beads. What are the links between these seemingly unrelated objects?  Listen to find out the surprising answer. www.michaelbackmanltd.com