Fan thumbnail 1
Fan thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

Fan

ca. 1880 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This fan of silk gauze on wooden sticks and guards, painted in tempera colours and gold and silver, is probably the work of a court painter attached to the royal palace in Mandalay, where the fan is said to have been found in 1885, after the annexation of Upper Burma and the exile of the last king of Burma, King Thibaw.

The fan depicts the last King of Burma, Thibaw Min, with his principal consort, Queen Supayalat, attended by courtiers and ladies, dressed in the court costumes of the period, witnessing an outdoor play (known as a zat-pwe) performed by actors and musicians in the Royal Gardens of the Palace at Mandalay.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Painted silk gauze in tempera, gold and silver, and wood
Brief description
Painted fan of silk gauze upon wooden sticks and guards, Mandalay, ca. 1880
Physical description
Fan of silk gauze upon wooden sticks and guards, and painted in tempera colours, gold and silver. The fan sticks are plain.

Buff coloured silk decorated with the subject of the last King of Burma, Thibaw Min, with his principal consort Queen Supayalat attended by courtiers and ladies, dressed in the court costumes of the period, witnessing an al-fresco play (zat-pwe) performed by actors and musicians in the Royal Gardens of the Palace at Mandalay.
Dimensions
  • Length: 34cm
  • Open width: 66.6cm
  • Length: 13.75in
  • Open width: 26.5in
Style
Credit line
Given by C.A. Bush, Esq., c/o Henry W. Bush & Co. Ltd., 34 Commercial Street, E.1
Object history
Given by C.A. Bush, Esq., c/o Henry W. Bush & Co. Ltd., 34 Commercial Street, E.1. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Museum records (Asia Department registers and/or Central Inventory) as part of a 2023 provenance research project.

R.P. 1921-4137
Production
Probably the work of a court painter attached to the Royal Palace of Mandalay, where the fan is stated to have been found in 1885. Konbaung Dynasty (1752-1885)
Summary
This fan of silk gauze on wooden sticks and guards, painted in tempera colours and gold and silver, is probably the work of a court painter attached to the royal palace in Mandalay, where the fan is said to have been found in 1885, after the annexation of Upper Burma and the exile of the last king of Burma, King Thibaw.

The fan depicts the last King of Burma, Thibaw Min, with his principal consort, Queen Supayalat, attended by courtiers and ladies, dressed in the court costumes of the period, witnessing an outdoor play (known as a zat-pwe) performed by actors and musicians in the Royal Gardens of the Palace at Mandalay.
Collection
Accession number
IM.292-1921

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Record createdFebruary 9, 1999
Record URL
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