The Journal of the Asian Arts Society of Australia
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VOLUME 23 NO. VOLUME MARCH 2014 1 THE JOURNAL OF THE ASIAN ARTS SOCIETY OF AUSTRALIA TAASA Review ROYAL COLLECTIONS IN ASIA CONTENTS Volume 23 No. 1 March 2014 3 EDITORIAL: ROYAL COLLECTIONS IN ASIA TAASA REVIEW Melanie Eastburn & Niki van den Heuvel, Guest Editors THE ASIAN ARTS SOCIETY OF AUSTRALIA INC. Abn 64093697537 • Vol. 23 No.1, March 2014 4 PURI AGUNG: PRESERVING KARANGASEM’S ROYAL PALACE IN BALI ISSN 1037.6674 Registered by Australia Post. Publication No. NBQ 4134 Niki van den Heuvel editoriAL • email: [email protected] 7 THE ROYAL ANTIQUITIES COLLECTION OF THE NGUYEN DYNASTY, VIETNAM General editor, Josefa Green Kerry Nguyen-Long PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE 10 THE JEWELLED WORLD OF BURMESE KINGS Josefa Green (convenor) • Tina burge Charlotte Galloway Melanie Eastburn • Sandra Forbes • Charlotte Galloway William Gourlay • Marianne Hulsbosch 12 THE ROYAL COLLECTIONS IN CIREBON, INDONESIA: A LIVING TRADITION Jim Masselos • Ann Proctor • Sabrina Snow Christina Sumner Joanna Barrkman DESIGN/LAYOUT 14 THE QUEEN SIRIKIT MUSEUM OF TEXTILES, BANGKOK Ingo Voss, VossDesign PRINTING Piyanan (Poom) Petcharaburanin John Fisher Printing 16 The SHOSO-IN TREASURY – a roYAL COLLECTION BOTH EXTRAORDINARY AND EVERYDAY Published by The Asian Arts Society of Australia Inc. Robyn Maxwell PO Box 996 Potts Point NSW 2011 www.taasa.org.au 18 THE HOFFOTOGRAAF: PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER TO ROYALTY IN ASIA Enquiries: [email protected] Gael Newton TAASA Review is published quarterly and is distributed to members of The Asian Arts Society of Australia Inc. TAASA Review welcomes 22 MODEST CONNOISSEUR: INDONESIAN TEXTILES IN THE LIVES OF JOHN YU & GEORGE SOUTTER submissions of articles, notes and reviews on Asian visual and Siobhan Campbell performing arts. All articles are refereed. Additional copies and subscription to TAASA Review are available on request. 26 ROYAL ART IN THE COLLECTION OF THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF AUSTRALIA No opinion or point of view is to be construed as the opinion of Melanie Eastburn The Asian Arts Society of Australia Inc., its staff, servants or agents. No claim for loss or damage will be acknowledged by TAASA 28 BOOK REVIEW: PHOTOGRAPHING INDIA’S PRINCES Review as a result of material published within its pages or Jim Masselos in other material published by it. We reserve the right to alter or omit any article or advertisements submitted and require 30 RECENT TAASA ACTIVITIES indemnity from the advertisers and contributors against damages or liabilities that may arise from material published. 30 TAASA MEMBERS’ DIARY: MARCH - MAY 2014 All reasonable efforts have been made to trace copyright holders. 31 WHAT’S ON: MARCH - MAY 2014 TAASA MEMBERSHIP RATES Compiled by Tina Burge $70 Single (Australia and overseas) $90 Dual (Australia and overseas) $95 Libraries (Australia and overseas) $35 Concession (full-time students under 26, pensioners and unemployed with ID, Seniors Card not included) ADVERTISING RATES TAASA Review welcomes advertisements from appropriate companies, institutions and individuals. Rates below are GST inclusive. Back page $850 Full inner page $725 Half page horizontal $484 Third page (vertical or horizontal) $364 Half column $265 Insert $300 For further information re advertising, including discounts for regular quarterly advertising, please contact [email protected] PRINCE YESHWANT RAO HOLKAR AND HIS SISTER MANORAMA RAJE (DETAIL) C.1916, GOPINATH THE DEADLINE FOR ALL ARTICLES FOR OUR NEXT ISSUE IS 1 APRIL 2014 DEVARE (DEVARE & CO.), MUMBAI (BOMBAY), INDIA. GELATIN SILVER PHOTOGRAPH, WATERCOLOUR, ORIGINAL THE DEADLINE FOR ALL ADveRTISING GILDED FRAME, IMAGE 36.7 X 26.6 CM, NATIONAL GALLERY OF AUSTRALIA, CANBERRA. SEE PP25-6. FOR OUR NEXT ISSUE IS 1 MAY 2014 A FULL INDEX OF ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN TAASA REVIEW SINCE ITS BEGINNINGS IN 1991 IS AVAILABLE ON THE TAASA WEB SITE, WWW.TAASA.ORG.AU 2 TAASA COMMITTEE EDITORIAL: ROYAL COLLECIONS IN ASIA GiLL Green • PRESIDENT Melanie Eastburn & Niki van den Heuvel, Guest Editors Art historian specialising in Cambodian culture Ann ProCTOR • VICE PRESIDENT When the idea for a special TAASA Review tumultuous history, some of which are now Art historian with a particular interest in Vietnam issue devoted to royal collections of Asia was displayed at the National Museum in Yangon. todd SundermAn • TREASURER suggested by Gael Newton and Robyn Maxwell From descriptions of the gilded opulence of Former Asian antique dealer, with a particular interest the concept was immediately appealing. the 16th century to the deposal of the last in Tibetan furniture From the earliest conversations regarding Burmese king Thibaw in 1885 and the ensuing dy AndreASen • SECRETARY the content of this issue we realized that it years of colonization and independence, Has a special interest in Japanese haiku and tanka poetry was vast with possibilities and enough ideas Charlotte gives insight into the meaning and HWEI-FE’N CHEAH for several volumes presented themselves. purpose of these exceptional works of art. Visiting Fellow, School of Cultural Inquiry, Australian We are pleased that the final result brings to National University. readers a selection including less well-known Focusing on the royal antiquities of Vietnam’s MATT COX and sometimes surprising collections, most of Nguyen dynasty, Kerry Nguyen-Long has Assistant Curator, Asian Art, Art Gallery of NSW which are accessible to the public. written a fascinating history of the dynasty’s CHARLOTTE GALLOWAY regalia. Along with a detailed account of some Lecturer Asian Art History and Curatorial Studies, Throughout Asia some of the finest arts of the most prized seals, crowns and jade Australian National University, with a special interest have been produced under the patronage objects, Kerry provides an in-depth account of in the Buddhist Art of Myanmar of powerful rulers who sought to mark and their production in dedicated handicraft units. JOSEFA GREEN assert their presence through the construction General editor of TAASA Review. Collector of of palatial and secular architecture and the Indonesia receives attention from a number Chinese ceramics commissioning of lavish ceremonial and of perspectives this issue. Inspired by recent ANN GUILD courtly goods. Imperial dynasties established travels, Joanna Barrkman describes a unique Former Director of the Embroiders Guild (UK) across expansive mainland and insular display of ceramics as well as wayang kulit regions have resulted in a rich diversity of puppets in royal collections in Cirebon, MIN-JUNG KIM Curator of Asian Arts & Design at the Powerhouse Museum royal treasures. Although many are now alongside investigation into the development included in international collections, private of Cirebon batik motifs. Further emphasis on YUKIE SATO and public, others remain in situ. While royal Indonesian textiles is provided by Siobhan Former Vice President of the Oriental Ceramic Society of the Philippines with wide-ranging interest in Asian art holdings in India and Japan are explored Campbell who discusses a forthcoming and culture in this issue, Southeast Asia is a particular exhibition of cloths from the collection of John SUSAN SCOLLAY focus, with most articles relating to courts in Yu and his late partner George Soutter. Art historian and curator specialising in the arts of Islam Thailand, Burma, Vietnam and Indonesia. and in historic textiles. She is Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Gael Newton, whose exhibition Garden of the Society of the UK. Piyanan Petcharaburanin from the Queen East: photography in Indonesia 1850s–1940s at the CHRISTINA SUMNER Sirikit Museum of Textiles in Bangkok gives National Gallery of Australia coincides with Former Principal Curator, Design and Society, an introduction to the Museum from its this edition of the TAASA Review, discusses Powerhouse Museum, Sydney inception to its current role as a state of the the way in which interest in photography, in MARGARET WHITE art institution inspired by the passion of particular portrait photography of royalty, Former President and Advisor of the Friends of Museums, Queen Sirikit. In November 2013 the Museum spread rapidly from Europe to the courts of Singapore, with special interest in Southeast Asian art, hosted an exceptional conference, Weaving Thailand and Indonesia from the mid 19th ceramics and textiles royal traditions through time, which included century. Photography is also explored in STATE REPRESENTATIVES diverse sessions spanning textiles for the Thai Jim Masselos’ review of Pramod Kumar’s AUSTRALIAN Capital Territory court and conservation at the Royal Textile sumptuous book Posing for Posterity: Royal Academy of Bhutan to contemporary fashion Indian Portraits, an investigation into MELANIE EASTBURN designed for the royal families of Malaysia photographs belonging to the royal families Curator of Asian Art, National Gallery of Australia and Brunei. of India. QUEENSLAND RUSSELL STORER Following a fortuitously timed visit to Japan in As guest editors we are also happy to have Curatorial Manager, Asian and Pacific Art, 2012, Robyn Maxwell writes about the precious been able to contribute content on collections Queensland Art Gallery 8th century objects associated with the reign close to our hearts. Reflecting on time spent SOUTH AUSTRALIA of Emperor Shomu and stored at the Shoso-in working in Bali and Lombok, Niki gives a JAMES BENNETT repository of Todai-ji temple in Nara. A rotating personal take on the history and holdings Curator of Asian Art, Art Gallery of South Australia selection of these works of art