Event Information
2 May 2024
7 - 9pm; doors open at 6:30pm
Leighton House
About the event
Art historian and author Michael Backman will lead a fascinating talk about the Malay ancient tradition of working with silver and gold as well as the appeal their craft had for collectors in the Victorian era. Recent research reveals that some goldware produced by the Malays, was wrongly attributed to goldsmiths in London.
Michael will show fine examples of Malay silverware during the talk.
This talk coincides with the publication of his latest book, Malay Silver and Gold: Courtly Splendour from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Brunei, the first book on this topic in more than 100 years. Signed copies will be available to purchase at a discounted price.
In partnership with The Barakat Trust.
Useful Information
- Doors open at 6:30pm for the chance to explore the historic house.
- The talk with Michael Backman will take place in Leighton's studio from 7-8:30pm
- Book signing from 8:30-9pm. Doors closed at 9pm.
- Bar will be open throughout the evening.
- This is a free event and capacity is limited. Please let us know as soon as possible if you have booked a ticket but cannot longer attend, so that we can release the space to someone else.
Meet Michael Backman
Michael Backman is an art historian, economist and writer. He is the author of nine books that cover all aspects of Asia – from culture to politics & business, and has previously had regular newspaper columns in Australia & Singapore..
He is also the author of the comprehensive, 300-page Malay Silver and Gold: Courtly Splendour from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Brunei (River Books, 2024), Rare Antique Asian & Colonial Decorative Arts (Paul Holberton Publishing, 2016); and a policy & political biography of a senior Malaysian politician (2018) which was nominated for the 2019 Popular Readers’ Choice Awards.
He has travelled to almost every Asian country (among many others), and prior to living in London, lived & worked in Jakarta, Paris, Melbourne, Adelaide and Canberra.
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