The collection of Burmese art housed at the Denison Museum in Granville, Ohio, includes more than 1,500 objects dating from the late first millennium A.D. through the twentieth century. This catalogue of the collection discusses theoretical approaches to the study of textiles and examines in some depth the production and use of textiles by the Karenic, Chin, Kachin, Lahu, and Tai, and Wa minority groups, as well as ethnic Burmans, within the context of their histories and cultures. Vibrant photographs illustrate the distinctive designs characteristic of each population group and the production techniques they use.
The volume also examines lacquerware and Buddha images. In decorating their wares, lacquer producers in Burma use a number of distinctive techniques that are different from those found in East Asia. A chapter on Buddha images provides a lucid exposition of how the examples in the collection reflect contemporary political, social, and religious trends and requirements.
