Watercolour Drawing thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Watercolour Drawing

1857-1885 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This album gives detailed visual depictions of a wide range of officials and their wives from the last Burmese court at Mandalay (1857-1885) together with their regalia of rank. The period covered encompasses the reigns of King Mindon Min (1852-1878) and Thibaw (1878-1885). Included are grades of court officials, army officers, princes, Brahmin priests and members of ethnic minorities. It is likely that the album was created on the orders of a European visitor using local court artists.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Laid paper and watercolour
Brief description
Watercolour drawing from a bound album of 48 drawings depicting officials of the Burmese court at Mandalay, Ca.1853-1885
Physical description
Watercolour drawing of a standing figure annotated in top right corner 'War Theppy (?)' The soldier wears a green outer jacket and red and orange checked under garment looped up around his legs. He wears a yellow sash around his head and carries a sword over his right shoulder.
Dimensions
  • Height: 37.2cm
  • Width: 23.5cm
Credit line
Purchased with Art Fund support and support of the Friends of the V&A
Object history
Formerly in the collection of Robert Hoe (1839-1909) bibliophile and member of the Grolier Club.
It was later owned by Doris Duke, who collected South East Asian art during the 1950s and 1960s.
Summary
This album gives detailed visual depictions of a wide range of officials and their wives from the last Burmese court at Mandalay (1857-1885) together with their regalia of rank. The period covered encompasses the reigns of King Mindon Min (1852-1878) and Thibaw (1878-1885). Included are grades of court officials, army officers, princes, Brahmin priests and members of ethnic minorities. It is likely that the album was created on the orders of a European visitor using local court artists.
Collection
Accession number
IS.136:28-2009

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Record createdJanuary 11, 2011
Record URL
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