Man's Costume
ca. 1930 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Jacket of black cotton cloth, open down the centre front and with short vents at the back and sides; round the collar are stitched a band of blue and a band of green braid; similar braid is used to bind the two front edges (L. blue, R. green); round the bottom is stitched red cloth (except the back edge of the side-vents which are green and the L.H. edge of the back vent which is white); the front fastening is an embroidered rectangle of cloth having a border of red, green and blue cloth needlework in coloured silk on a black ground and a central rectangle of red cloth; (the whole is decorated with 13 silver domes); at the top right-hand corner is a silver clasp in the form of a shallow silver dome with scalloped edge and engraved; a link attached to the jacket passes through a central opening; the lower edge is decorated with narrow red, green and yellow braid and silver hemispheres sewn at the main corners.; Trousers of black cotton cloth with a broad blue waistband.; Headband of black cotton cloth folded into several layers kept in place by narrow strips of red cloth; the front is stiffened by pieces of wood, covered with red cloth and green and yellow braid and bound with coils of silver (?) wire; to three of these coils are attached filigree floral ornaments.; Sash like belt of black cotton cloth; the decoration at each end comprises a row of red, green and white flowers embroidered with silk thread and an applied panel of red, yellow, green, black and white strips; to this are attached 5 silver domes from the centre one of which hangs a tassel of twisted cotton cord; this coincides with a similar tassel at each end corner and the corded fringe of the black cloth.; Shoulder carrying bag of coarse black cotton cloth with a plaid pattern of red, green embroidered in a herringbone stitch, and applied groups of white seeds; the black shoulder strap is striped with red and yellow while similar fringes are at each corner.; The pipe's node is a node of bamboo; the stem, also of bamboo is wound round with cotton thread to form stripes of red, blue, yellow and purple.; A basket of split bamboo forms a side pouch, oval at the opening with two decorated blunt points at the bottom; the front is decorated with strips of coloured cloth to which are sewn with red cotton and red, blue, green and lustre shirt button: the carrying cord is of twisted red cotton cord; a tassel of red, green, yellow, purple and natural hemp, and strings of seeds is attached to each top corner.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Parts | This object consists of 7 parts.
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Materials and techniques | Cotton, dye, thread. Weaving, dyeing, stitching. |
Brief description | A costume worn by a man of the Akha ethnic group of Kentung District, Southern Shan States, Burma. An ensemble that includes a decorated bamboo pipe and carrying pouch as well as a jacket, trousers, headband, belt, shoulder bag. Mainly of black cotton fabric with applique of bright and variously coloured cottons and braid, silk stitchwork with cording, coloured buttons, seeds and silver decorative elements. Shan States, Burma, c. 1930 |
Physical description | Jacket of black cotton cloth, open down the centre front and with short vents at the back and sides; round the collar are stitched a band of blue and a band of green braid; similar braid is used to bind the two front edges (L. blue, R. green); round the bottom is stitched red cloth (except the back edge of the side-vents which are green and the L.H. edge of the back vent which is white); the front fastening is an embroidered rectangle of cloth having a border of red, green and blue cloth needlework in coloured silk on a black ground and a central rectangle of red cloth; (the whole is decorated with 13 silver domes); at the top right-hand corner is a silver clasp in the form of a shallow silver dome with scalloped edge and engraved; a link attached to the jacket passes through a central opening; the lower edge is decorated with narrow red, green and yellow braid and silver hemispheres sewn at the main corners.; Trousers of black cotton cloth with a broad blue waistband.; Headband of black cotton cloth folded into several layers kept in place by narrow strips of red cloth; the front is stiffened by pieces of wood, covered with red cloth and green and yellow braid and bound with coils of silver (?) wire; to three of these coils are attached filigree floral ornaments.; Sash like belt of black cotton cloth; the decoration at each end comprises a row of red, green and white flowers embroidered with silk thread and an applied panel of red, yellow, green, black and white strips; to this are attached 5 silver domes from the centre one of which hangs a tassel of twisted cotton cord; this coincides with a similar tassel at each end corner and the corded fringe of the black cloth.; Shoulder carrying bag of coarse black cotton cloth with a plaid pattern of red, green embroidered in a herringbone stitch, and applied groups of white seeds; the black shoulder strap is striped with red and yellow while similar fringes are at each corner.; The pipe's node is a node of bamboo; the stem, also of bamboo is wound round with cotton thread to form stripes of red, blue, yellow and purple.; A basket of split bamboo forms a side pouch, oval at the opening with two decorated blunt points at the bottom; the front is decorated with strips of coloured cloth to which are sewn with red cotton and red, blue, green and lustre shirt button: the carrying cord is of twisted red cotton cord; a tassel of red, green, yellow, purple and natural hemp, and strings of seeds is attached to each top corner. |
Dimensions |
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Credit line | Given by Mr. T.W.F. Scott |
Object history | The RP's only reveal that the two Akha costumes IS.154-1964 & IS.155-1964 were collected by Mr. T. W. F. Scott in 1936 while he was in Burma with Burmah Oil Company, Nyaungla, Burma. |
Historical context | The Akha, who originally came from Yunnan in Southern China, live in south-east Shan State, on the borderlands of China, Laos and Thailand. They live high in the mountains, their villages protected by 'spirit gates', in houses built on stilts. Practising slash-and-burn agriculture the Akha cultivate maize, tobacco, sugar cane and opium. |
Collection | |
Accession number | IS.155 to F-1964 |
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Record created | June 7, 2004 |
Record URL |
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