THE ARTS AND CRAFTS OF MYANMAR : THE INDIAN MUSEUM COLLECTION BY ASOK K. BHATTACHARYA (HARDCOVER)

Myanmar, that is Burma before 1989, is known world wide as the 'Land of Pagodas'. Far about a millennium the country's dominating religion is Buddhism, and the people are following a way of life inspired by the humanizing teachings of Gautama Buddha. Their arts and crafts, motivated by the spirit of the same religion, bear certain characteristics which are distinct from those of the other southeast Asian countries. The Indian Museum possesses one of the richest collections of Burmese arts and crafts outside Myanmar. The collection, accumulated in course of about one hundred years since the Museum's foundation in 1814, was mostly so long languishing in the secured reserves. Now, for the first time, the Museum is exposing it in its entirely to the art lovers of this and other countries by publishing this monograph. The monograph introduces the objects in the following categories : sculptures, textile, lacquerwork, ceramics, metal-work, musical instruments and miscellaneous objects. The survey not only deals with their techniques and styles, but also relates them to the socio-religious life of the Burmese people. A comprehensively illustrated catalogues of the objects has been added to provide the reader with ready reference. More significantly, the monograph amply marks the personality of Burmese creative genius as expressed in orderly forms and luminous colour of their art and crafts.