David C Owens was born in England and emigrated to Canada after graduating from Imperial College, London University. A career in the metal mining industry included 25 years working in Southeast and East Asia, an experience that stimulated David’s interest in Asian history, culture and art. A frequent visitor to Myanmar since 1992, David now devotes much of his time to the collection and study of old Burmese (Myanmar) silverwork. The Noble Silver Collection, assembled by David and his wife Kathleen over eight years, is the largest-known single collection of work from the Burmese Silver Age.
David’s particular expertise is deciphering the iconography of the archetypal visual narratives that decorate Burmese silverwork. He regularly consults on Burmese silver art, providing guidance on collecting work from the Burmese Silver Age. David has contributed articles on Burmese silverwork in the prestigious Asian art journals Passage and Arts of Asia. Burmese Silver Art is David’s first book.