This beautifully illustrated book is the most comprehensive book ever published on the silver and gold ware of the Malay people of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, southern Thailand and Brunei. Hundreds of photographs of previously unpublished items, and meticulous research, are used to tell not just the story of Malay gold and silver, but that of the Malay people, with reference to their princely regalia, banqueting items, betel sets, jewellery and other treasures. Michael Backman shows how collectors, curators and colonialism have distorted our view of the Malays and their gold and silver ware, and in so doing, reveals a rich and sophisticated legacy.