"Indian and Burmese Silver – A Colonial Heritage" with Esmé Parish

Following an earlier talk on Chinese Export silver, we are pleased to invite Esmé Parish to present a sequel on Indian and Burmese silver. Moving through almost two centuries, Parish will cover the growth of Indian and Burmese silver from simple replicas of British pieces to the art form we now see. She will also review the history of India subcontinent as it relates to silver, as well as the techniques, quality and motifs of Indian silver.

Indian Colonial silver was initially crafted in India and Burma in the British style to compliment the silver that were made in Britain but adapted to local needs. The Great Exhibitions in the last part of the 19th and early 20th centuries, however, changed the perception of Indian silver. Consequently, the quality and style that developed influenced the fashions of the “civilized world”. Examples of the various styles and forms from the different locations of India and Burma will be discussed. A collection of silver will be on display to illustrate the talk.

Speaker
An ex-American banker, Esmé Parish started Esmé Parish Silver in 1983 in Singapore – turning a hobby into a business. The company specializes in a wide range of sterling silver, both antique and new. Chinese Export silver is of particular interest because of its unique history and scarcity. Their collection also includes Japanese Export and English antique silver. She has recently added Indian and Burmese antique silver because of their high quality and craftsmanship. Over the years, Parish has given talks to various interest groups in Asia and has also sponsored a Chinese Export silver exhibition at the Asian Civilization Museum in Singapore.