Kalaga (hanging) of embroidered wool with appliqué in coloured felt, Burma, 19th century.

Embroidered kalaga (hanging) on a red woollen ground and showing scenes from a Jataka story or Burmese legend. With stitch-work and applique of coloured textiles (partly painted) and sequins. The appliqué embroidery is in coloured felt. With cotton, braids and sequins, and wide a band of green cloth with brass rings along the top.

The central design has framed broad borders and the smaller panels consisting of scrolling vegetation, eight panels containing male dancers on hobby horses, and acheik textile patterns.

From the left a lone male figure, in a long floral robe, standing on a rocky outcrop, watches a prince and princess who are attended by an umbrella bearer. They are dressed in sequined ein-gyi and acheik patterned hta-mein and pah-soe. The central panel shows a horseman, armed with a bow, approaching the gates of a city. Within, an official, in hat and long floral robe, waits to greet him. Behind him is a palace scene. In a pavilion, richly decorated with chandeliers and crystal drops, a prince seated on a raised throne and flanked by a pair of folded umbrellas is in conversation with a court minister, distinguished by his tall hat, and lady-in-waiting.

The figures are dressed in the fashions worn at the Mandalay Court ca. 1880.

The subject matter (unidentified) is from a Jataka story or taken from Burmese legend.

Given by Lady Roome

Brought to England in 1900 by Colonel W.S.Waford, late R.G.A., the father of Lady Roome who presented papers to the Indian Office Library.

Donated by Lady Roome (Helen), wife of Sir Horace Roome, KCIE,
CB, CBE, MC

Attribution note: This kalaga was probably made in the same late 19th century workshop and the designs created by the same artist as: IS 2-1963; IS 3-1963; IM 47-1925; IS 76-1957; IS 1-1963; IM 159-1924. Inf. Noel Singer June 2002.

This fine kalaga, or pictorial textile hanging, of red woollen cloth with an appliqué design of shaped coloured fabrics (partly painted) and silver sequins was obtained by the donor's father, a British officer, while stationed in Burma in the latter part of the 19th century. Britain's control of Burma extended as the 19th century progressed, and the country was annexed in 1885.

A kalaga would have been used either as a decorative wall hanging, a room partition, or as a screen hung outside the house on festive occasions. The extravagant style of kalagas appealed to Burmese and Europeans alike and their popularity soared in the middle of the 19th century. This one shows scenes from either a Jataka story (a series of tales about the Buddhas former lives) or a Burmese legend. The costumes of the figures are depicted in the stylised tradition of Burmese theatre relate to the fashions worn in the Mandalay Court of about 1880.

IS.44-1967