Art gems now for sale in S'pore

JAKARTA (JP): A sale exhibition of Southeast Asian sculptures, jewelry and batik opened in Singapore yesterday and runs through Sept. 10.

Spink Singapore, a sister company of Christie's International, is organizing The Art of Southeast Asia event at its gallery at Goodwood Park Hotel on Scotts Road.

Theresa McCullough of the Southeast Asian Department of Spink London will conduct a talk and slide presentation on Khmer architecture and sculpture of the Angkor period on Aug. 23.

Sculptures include examples from the Cham period of Vietnam, 8th to 15th century Java and various styles of Khmer art, Spink Singapore announced.

There is a bronze figure of the Buddha from Central Java, priced at S$345,000; 9th to 14th century Javanese jewelry; Javanese batik, and earrings from the pre-Champa and Champa period in Vietnam.

East Java sculptures include a green stone figure of a four- armed Ganesha seated on a lotus, believed to date from the 14th century and valued at S$19,500.

Batiks are from Surakarta, dated 1890, and Lasem, circa 1930.

Further information on the exhibition and authorization of sale of items can be obtained from Spink Singapore (Tel. 65-235- 2433). Indonesian objects not for sale are registered as protected cultural relics under the Directorate General of Historical Heritage Development and Protection, a division of the Ministry of Education and Culture. (anr)