Skirt thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Skirt

ca. 1850 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This beautifully patterned cotton and silk wrap skirt known as a hta-mein, dating to before 1855, would have been worn by a fashionable Burmese woman of the time on festive occasions. She would have worn it overlapping slightly in the front, revealing a portion of her leg as she walked. It would have formed part of an ensemble, as depicted, with a jacket (5623(IS)) and a breast cloth (IM.10-1909). Typical of hta-mein, the central area is the focus of decorative interest and displays the unique horizontal wave patterned "100 shuttles" interlocking tapestry weave known in Burmese as acheik-luntaya in greens, blues, yellow and white on a red ground. From this flows a striped pink train, the graceful management of which was an acquired skill.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silk luntaya ('100 shuttles' interlocking tapestry weave) cloth and cloth of plain cotton weave
Brief description
Burmese red cotton and multi-coloured silk hta-mein. Konbaung Dynasty (1752-1885). ca. 1850. Acheik-luntaya patterned area.
Physical description
Composed of three parts. A red cotton waistband joined to a strip of acheik (horizontal wave patterned) silk textile of three pattern repeats with checkered end borders in lime, yellow, white, maroon, green, coral, dark green and royal blue. The weft colours are repeated in the tightly banded warp ground. The acheik panel is attached to a separately woven silk train of two pieces sewn together half worked with a pattern of narrow stripes repeating the colours of the acheik panel on a coral ground. The components are hand stitched together and lined with white cotton.
Dimensions
  • Length: 145cm
  • Width: 106cm
Style
Marks and inscriptions
No. 131 Tamine Burmese - woman's waist cloth (Label)
Production
Acquired by the India Museum from Tenassarim, Martaban Province in 1855.
Summary
This beautifully patterned cotton and silk wrap skirt known as a hta-mein, dating to before 1855, would have been worn by a fashionable Burmese woman of the time on festive occasions. She would have worn it overlapping slightly in the front, revealing a portion of her leg as she walked. It would have formed part of an ensemble, as depicted, with a jacket (5623(IS)) and a breast cloth (IM.10-1909). Typical of hta-mein, the central area is the focus of decorative interest and displays the unique horizontal wave patterned "100 shuttles" interlocking tapestry weave known in Burmese as acheik-luntaya in greens, blues, yellow and white on a red ground. From this flows a striped pink train, the graceful management of which was an acquired skill.
Bibliographic reference
Franklin and Swallow. Identifying with the Gods Hali Annual Edition 1994: p.51, ill. Fig. 3
Other number
3,184 - India Museum Slip Book
Collection
Accession number
9756(IS)

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Record createdJune 2, 1999
Record URL
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