THE ART OF BURMA NEW STUDIES, DONALD M. STADNER, MARG PUBLICATION , HARDCOVER , 1999

Coloured map, extensive black, white, and coloured illustrations, 128pp, index, very good hardback copy in dustjacket showing fading along the spine and small section of the upper cover. 24 x 33 cm.

“As neighbours sharing the Bay of Bengal, Burma and India also share a common history. In the modern era both won their freedom from Britain at the same time…Burma boasted a distinguished Department of Archeologic with roots in the late nineteenth century. From the 1960’s onwards, however, after the ,military assumed control, Burma is something of a terra incognita, inasmuch as foreign researchers are not encouraged. As a result the number pf publications on Burmese art is limited.

Marg published a magazine on Burmese art in 1956, less than a decade after India and Burma achieved independence. The present volume attempts to rekindle the spirit captured in that first issue. It provides a broad general overview of the development and nature of Burmese art, and at the same time highlights current research, discussing facets ranging from the earliest contacts with India, to Pagan art and architecture, court manuscripts and jewellery from the nineteenth century, and modern lacquerware” – Dustjacket Blurb.

Articles included are: The Art of the Pyu and Mon – John Guy; Vishnu in Burma – Pamela Gutman; Pagan Bronzes: Fresh Observations – Donald M. Stadtner; Fragmentary Cloth Paintings from Early Pagan and Their Relations with Indo-Tibetan Traditions – Pratapaditya Pal; Burmese Court Manuscripts – Patricia Herbert; Scarlet, Gold and Black: The Lacquer Traditions of Burma – T. Richard Blurton; Burmese Jewellery from the Collection of the V&A – Choodamani Nandagopal.