Serene Buddha heads, bronze drums, and batik textiles take you on a journey from Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar to Vietnam and Laos, and across the Indonesian archipelago — all to the sound of a gamelan orchestra.
Cambodia, Thailand and Burma
Representing the rich culture of the Khmer in Cambodia are ten large, characteristic stone sculptures acquired during an excavation campaign in the 1930s. From Thailand and Burma, perhaps more modestly, there are one or two typical paintings, gilded bronzes, woodcarvings, ceramics, and an eighteenth-century illuminated manuscript.
Vietnam and Laos
The ceramics and bronzes from Vietnam form one of the largest collections outside that country. Among the 3,000 pieces—providing a survey from Neolithic times to the nineteenth century - are a number of top-quality items, including a dated vase from the second century, painted ceramics from the early Vietnamese dynasties of the Ly and Tran (eleventh to fourteenth century), monochrome ceramics and celadon ware, large bronze drums, a dagger, and a gilded bronze ritual axe from the Dong Son culture.
Indonesia
The Indonesian collection is characterized by its great variety and a number of high-quality objects acquired locally in the nineteenth century, including Batak weapons and images from Sumatra, sculptures from Java, Nias, Leti, and Tanimbar, models of houses, fine jewels and objects for magic and adornment, smoking requisites, and typical betel secateurs. In addition, there are batik and ikat textiles, wickerwork, and a number of Balinese paintings and drawings.
Shadow-puppet
The collection is rounded off with masks and a shadow-puppet theatre with a gamelan orchestra. Push the button to hear the music.
Contact
- Bowi Quibus: b.quibus@kmkg-mrah.be