In the 19th century, Siam (now Thailand) and Burma (now Myanmar) were neighboring kingdoms. Before they were touched by European imperialism, their traditions of luxurious arts and architecture flourished.
The Asian Arts Museum of San Francisco’s “Emerald Cities is the first major exhibition in the West to explore the rich but little known arts of Siam and Burma from this period. Many of the 140 stunning artworks—including gilded ritual vessels, mother-of-pearl inlaid furniture, colorful paintings, manuscripts, exquisite textiles, delicate ceramics, and more—were recently acquired by the museum from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and are on display for the first time.”
“Emerald Cities: Arts of Siam & Burma” * Until January 10, 2010
Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, CA