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Publications & Catalogues
From time to time Antiques of the Orient ventures into publishing
and over the years has produced a number of titles. The following
are some of our publications :
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Chinese
Gods of Wealth (1983) S$9.00
The worship of Gods of Wealth, one of the most interesting of
Chinese cults, is explored in this authoritative, illustrated
title, by Basil M. Alexeiev, Professor of Chinese, Corresponding
Member, Academic Sciences, Asiatic Museum, Leningrad. The contents
were first delivered as a lecture at the School of Oriental Studies,
University of London, March, 1926. 66 pages 250x155mm softcover
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Symbolism
in Chinese Art (1984) S$9.00
One of the distinctive and striking features of Chinese art is
the symbolic character of its expression used to convey a definite
message. The subject is discussed by W. Percival in this illustrated
text which was first read before the China Society, London in
January 1912. 4o pages 225x150mm softcove
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Coleman
of Singapore by T.H.H. Hancock S$5.00
Reprinted from The Architectural Review of March 1955 by AOTO
1985. The Irish architect, George Coleman was responsible for
many of the fine buildings that graced Singapore in the early
19th century, sadly few remain today. When, between October 1822
and February 1823, Raffles drafted the Town Planning Ordinances,
he consulted at length with Coleman, and took great pains to ensure
an orderly and well laid out development. It was left to Coleman's
practical skills, in the late 1820s and early 1830s, to implement
Raffles' detailed instructions. 12 pages 248x300mm softcover
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A
Portrait Gallery of Nineteenth Century Singapore (1988) S$9.00
This selection of portraits of Singapore people is not particularly
representative or balanced, dictated as it is by the materials
extant to hand. However, provided that one accepts the imbalance
for what it is and does not try to read into it subtle neo-colonialist
attempt to underscore Western predominance, this collection may
be seen as of interest and value. 29 pages 140x220mm softcover
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Admiral
Paris' Native Boats of Asia and the Pacific, 1841 (1989) S$10.00
This title was put together as a catalogue of an exhibition and
sale of original lithographs of Asia and the Pacific by François-Edmond
Paris (1806-1893) in his Essai Sur La Construction Navale Des
Peuples Extra-Européens published in 1841 under the aegis of the
First Lord of the French Admiralty. The original edition was issued
in a very limited edition, and according to experts, less than
a dozen copies are extant. Paris gleaned his material from observation
made during three voyages around the world. 96 pages 170x215mm
softcover
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Sir
Thomas Stamford Raffles Book of Days (1993) S$59.00
Beautifully illustrated in full colour with contemporary scenes
and views as they would have appeared to Raffles, this title charts
the life of this remarkable man, best remembered as the founder
of Singapore. He also founded the London Zoological Society and
distinguished himself as an historian, Malay scholar and natural
scientist. His friends included royalty and politicians and many
of the eminent scientists and Orientalists of his day. A comprehensive
biographical section introduces Raffles family and friends, foes
and associates. 197 pages 285x220mm Hardcover
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The
Visit of the Bonite to Singapore in 1837 (1994) S$5.00
La Bonite was on a western circumnavigation of the
globe under the command of Captain Auguste-Nicolas Vaillant. The
principal aim of the voyage was to show the flag abroad and to
collect up-to-date information on the Pacific and the far east
for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and to establish diplomatic
relations with the Emperor of Cochin-China with a view to gaining
trade concessions and even territorial rights. Illustrated with
the five Bonite prints of Singapore in black and white. 15 pages
148x210mm Softcover
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Mapping
the Continent of Asia (1994) S$45.00
Published as the catalogue for an exhibition of 16th to 19th century
Maps of Asia. Rich in fascinating, historical detail, delightful
anecdotes and observations, with potted biographies of the prominent
cartographers, this comprehensive catalogue chronologically documents
the mapping of the continent of Asia from the 16th century to
the dawn of the modern era. 88pages 210x295mm Softcover
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Spices
Address Book (1994) S$30.00
Much, much more than just an address book, beautifully illustrated
in full colour throughout, this comprehensive guide to spices
explores their origins and trade, cultivation, harvest, and uses
both medicinal and culinary. 230 pages 280x210mm Hardcover
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A
Journey Through Singapore ~ Traveller's Impressions of Times Gone
By S$60.00
This title focuses on a time of transition - the close of the
19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. It was a time
when rickshaws shared the roads with bullock carts, gharries and
the motorcar, when sailing craft and steamers graced the harbour,
tigers stalked the suburbs and Renaissance architecture stood
with buildings of fine Palladian style. The text, an evocative
selection of 19th century travel memoirs, is highlighted by more
than 165 archival photographs and personal snapshots, many of
which are published for the first time. (Published 1995 - jointly
with Landmark Books). 219 pages 230x260 Hardcover
OTHER BOOKS: ASIA OBSERVED SERIES
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Straits
Affairs: The Malay World and Singapore S$20
Fascinating 19th century glimpses of the Straits Settlements and
the Malay Peninsula as seen through The Illustrated London News
and other contemporary sources. The passages and pictures in this
book help recreate the 19th century world of the Straits - Singapore,
Penang and Malacca, and the parts of the Malay hinterland which
fell into their orbit, providing a stimulating insight into the
formation of a new society created through the forces of Western
expansion; for Malaysians and Singaporeans this book conveys a
picture of their past with an immediacy that the ordinary history
book cannot provide. A further attraction is the supplement of
beautiful 19th century colour plates of Singapore and Malaya printed
on high quality art paper and suitable for framing. 130pages 275x220mm
Softcover
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Rajah
Brooke's Borneo S$39
The island of Borneo was put on the map of Victorian minds by
the activities of the romantic adventurer, James Brooke, who created
for himself a kingdom out of the dominions of the Sultan of Brunei.
Almost coincidental with Brooke's activities was the birth of
the Illustrated London News which was destined to be the picture
periodical of the British Empire for the next hundred years. It
was through its engravings and reports that Brooke and his exploits
were initially chronicled. The Illustrated London News, with its
reports of pirates, headhunters, hornbills, orang utan and other
exotica from the jungles of Borneo lit and kept alive a keen interest
in the great island's denizens, human and animal. In fact the
pages of the ILN provide one of the most important sources of
written and illustrated information about northern Borneo in the
19th century and cover the principal actors who appeared on that
stage. The bulk of this material has been brought together for
the first time in this volume, along with references and sources
from other contemporary sources. The pages of this book brings
to life the atmosphere and excitement of 19th century Borneo and
leaves us with a better understanding of how and why the island
of Borneo has created in the world a fascination which remain
alive to this day. A further attraction is the supplement of beautiful
19th century colour plates printed on high quality art paper and
suitable for framing. 130pages 275x220mm Hardback
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The
Chinese Empire Illustrated S$39
In 1843, two years after the first Opium War, G.H. Wright, a Protestant
missionary who had lived and worked in China, and H.J. Allom,
a draughtsman and architect, produced a monumental work, illustrating
in pictures and words, the life, scenery, architecture and habits
of 19th century China. Running to four volumes, this represented
the most extensive view of the Middle Kingdom published to that
date for the English reading public of the outside world. In this
volume, sixty of the finest and most representative of the original
143 plates have been selected, along with the accompanying text,
abridged and adapted as necessary for modern reading, providing
glimpses of many of the social customs and habits, the architecture
and countryside of 19th century China. The illustrations convey
with astonishing accuracy and eye for detail, the splendours,
charm and incongruities of traditional China's fabulous civilization
as it appeared to pioneer Western eyes in the fist half of that
century. Wright's narrative is full of penetrating insights and
information which even today commands attention and enhances the
elegance of Allom's drawings. 125pages 275x220mm Hardcover
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The
Mikado's Japan S$39
The forty years which began with the sudden appearance of Commodore
Perry and his naval squadron in Tokyo Bay in 1853, and culminated
in the promulgation of the Meiji Constitution in 1889, represent
one of the most tumultuous and heroic periods in Japanese history,
as the Japanese struggled to adjust themselves to the new challenges
created by the Western impact. The events of these years are well
documented by all parties involved, but rarely presented through
the eyes of the actual participants themselves. The illustrations
and extracts from the Illustrated London News, supplemented by
accounts from contemporary observers - diplomats, journalists,
travellers - provide us with an immediate picture of events as
they unfolded and offer a unique picture of what Japan was like
for the foreigners the second half of the 19th century. They also
let us know what it was like to do business, travel and live in
Japan, and tell us of Japanese habits, customs, attitudes, and
often to Westerners, hilarious outer manifestations of the Japanese
determination to catch up with western civilization and meet it
on terms of equality. They also reveal the great admiration which
the Japanese civilization evoked in the breasts of many Western
observers, despite the typically 19th century belief in their
own superiority. 130pages 275x220mm Hardback
Sun Tree Miniatures
These small 180x135mm hard back editions are priced at S$22 each
- Indian
Wildlife
122 pages - abridged from the original text by Nirmal Ghosh, 1993
- Orchids
An Iconography
89 pages - revised and extracted from Lindenia Inconography of
Orchids by J & L Linden, 1994
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