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

Jacket

early 1860s (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This neatly tailored white cotton jacket, flaring gently over the hips with its distinctive triangular headed pendants, would have been worn by a fashionable Burmese woman during the second half of the nineteenth century. It was obtained in 1867 from Prome, a town in central Burma lying on the Irrawaddy River, which had recently fallen under British control. Britain annexed Burma stage by stage through the 19th century until in 1885 the entire kingdom came under British rule. Known as an ein-gyi this jacket is embroidered and quilted in yellow silk with wave and twisted rope patterns typical of Burmese design. It would have formed an ensemble, as shown, with a wrap skirt (9756 IS) and breast cloth (IM.10-1909).


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Cotton, embroidered and hand-quilted with yellow silk
Brief description
Burmese woman's white cotton ein-gyi. Konbaung Dynasty (1752-1885). Quilted with wavy patterns in yellow silk.
Physical description
Short, white, drawn in at the waist and flaring over the hips, with long tight sleeves; it is open in front, and the bands down either side terminate in triangular-headed pendants. The pattern mainly consists of rows of wavy bands interspersed with conventional floral and foliate devices.
Dimensions
  • Shoulder to hem length: 70cm
  • Across shoulders width: 37cm
  • Sleeve length: 50cm
Style
Object history
Acquired from Prome by the Indian Museum in 1867. A town in central Burma lying on the Irrawaddy River.
Summary
This neatly tailored white cotton jacket, flaring gently over the hips with its distinctive triangular headed pendants, would have been worn by a fashionable Burmese woman during the second half of the nineteenth century. It was obtained in 1867 from Prome, a town in central Burma lying on the Irrawaddy River, which had recently fallen under British control. Britain annexed Burma stage by stage through the 19th century until in 1885 the entire kingdom came under British rule. Known as an ein-gyi this jacket is embroidered and quilted in yellow silk with wave and twisted rope patterns typical of Burmese design. It would have formed an ensemble, as shown, with a wrap skirt (9756 IS) and breast cloth (IM.10-1909).
Bibliographic reference
Franklin & Swallow. Identifying with the Gods Hali Annual Edition 1994: p.53, ill. Fig. 3 Yank-kaw Pagoda Museum Catalogue 1980 p. 75
Other number
5667 - India Museum Slip Book
Collection
Accession number
5623(IS)

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Record createdJuly 19, 1999
Record URL
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