Dating back centuries, Asian art is one of the oldest forms of expressionism.  Thinking of art, the first thought that most likely comes to your mind is paintings.  What you may not already know, however, is that there are many different kinds of Asian art like wooden Burmese statues, Buddha statues, copper statues, and lacquerware, to name a few.  Burma, which is now known as Myanmar, has a long standing reputation for producing unique, quality art pieces.  The Burmese people, heavily influenced with Buddhism, have produced a number of Burmese statues.  Some lesser known lacquerware that are treasured from Burma are Burmese Manuscripts.  These ornate manuscripts of religious texts, which are still in use today to ordain monks, can be easily identified by their extravagant decoration that gleams with gold and silver.  Sometimes, you may be lucky and find a mother-of-pearl inlay.

Moreover, Buddhist art are popular artifacts seen in many Asian homes today.  The Buddha statues are often considered sacred pieces and have been used in assisting with meditation which helps to symbolize a clear mind and soul. They are generally cast of bronze or brass and are made by making a mold from an existing bronze image, then using this mold to fabricate identical forms of the same image. You will sometimes find the images of Buddha in a reclining position, holding symbolic objects or making symbolic gestures.  Nearly all cast-metal reproduction Buddha images are hollow and contain a core, rather than being formed of solid metal. 

Additionally, Lacquerware are objects sealed in a lacquer coating to preserve an object.  Like icing on a cake, the lacquer object, when hardened, were ornamented.  You will find Burmese and Sukhothai lacquerware like boxes, trays, bowls, plates, cups, and betel nut boxes.  These pieces are sought after by Asian art collectors and make a fine addition to any contemporary Asian home.  Betel nut boxes can be found in almost every traditional Burmese home.  The cynlindrical-shaped boxes are woven with bamboo.  Inside the box you will find shallow trays for the purpose of holding the essential items for making betel. The betel was probably the first chewing gum and lipstick combination as it was often chewed by young Burmese women as a way to color their lips.

In contrast, Sukhothai Lacquerware are mainly old Burmese pieces that have been restored, re-lacquered and designed with the common bamboo inlay typical of the Sukhothai pattern. There are just a few families remaining that are still mastering this craft and their rareness tends to be a valuable collectors item.

The exceptional quality workmanship and attention to detail on Asian art pieces are nothing short of spectacular.  It is certain that you will cherish these fine works of art for many years.  You can find many of these works of art in private collections, museums and by shopping online art galleries.

About the Author:
Oriental Living has been offering Sukhothai Art since 1991. Visit their online art gallery for unique artifacts and other museum quality contemporary Asian art that you will treasure for years to come.

• Cliffside Malibu Waste Rehab