Panel
ca. 1790-1850 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This lacquered and gilded panel was formerly the front portion of a Buddhist 'sadaik' (manuscript chest). The design, in fine thayo work (relief moulded lacquer) on Burmese teak, depicts scenes of 'poongyi' (monks) offering their 'tha-beik' (food-bowls) to the Buddha, who is also surrounded by different types of worshippers in conventional depictions of meditation, kneeling in adoration or holding food bowls.
In the 19th century, chests in various sizes were important items of Burmese furniture. Some were quite small, and were used for storing personal and important domestic items. Others were larger and used to store bedding and, in monasteries, books and manuscripts. They were usually placed on stands, supported by four legs and could be decorated, like this one, with lacquer, or glass mosaic.
This panel was obtained in the late 19th century from a Buddhist temple in Taungdwingyi (100 miles south of Mandalay) but it is likely that it was made near or in Mandalay where the craftsmen in lacquer specialized in making relief patterns of this sort.
In the 19th century, chests in various sizes were important items of Burmese furniture. Some were quite small, and were used for storing personal and important domestic items. Others were larger and used to store bedding and, in monasteries, books and manuscripts. They were usually placed on stands, supported by four legs and could be decorated, like this one, with lacquer, or glass mosaic.
This panel was obtained in the late 19th century from a Buddhist temple in Taungdwingyi (100 miles south of Mandalay) but it is likely that it was made near or in Mandalay where the craftsmen in lacquer specialized in making relief patterns of this sort.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Teak, coated with black thitsi lacquer onto which fine thayo-work (relief moulded lacquer) has been applied; further painted with black lacquer and gilded |
| Brief description | Burmese teak thayo (relief moulded) black lacquer and gilded panel from a Buddhist sadaik (manuscript chest). Konbaung Dynasty (1752-1885).Decorated with a floral scrollwork border surrounding devotional scenes. ca. late 18th/early 19th century. |
| Physical description | Gold on black rectangular panel. With a border of floral scrollwork containing scenes of poongyi (Buddhist monks) offering their tha-beik (food-bowls) to the Buddha who is surrounded by different types of worshippers including possibly one kneeling Nat figure. They are depicted in conventional attitudes of meditating, kneeling in adoration or holding food bowls. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Credit line | Given by Maj. Sir Bartle C. A. Frere |
| Object history | Extract from Sir Bartle Frere's letter of 20th September 1906 to Mr. Clifford Smith: ..."They are fronts of chests in which the monks keep their Buddhist Bibles - are made of very solid wood, and decorated with some sort of waxy composition which has been gilt. They represent groups of monks and saints and a Forest demon ("Beelou") and are very handsome, in their way. Each about l 1/2ft x 2ft."... |
| Production | Obtained from a Buddhist Temple at Taundwingyi. (100 miles south of Mandalay) Attribution note: Formerly the front portion of a Burmese Buddhist sadaik (religious manuscript chest). |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This lacquered and gilded panel was formerly the front portion of a Buddhist 'sadaik' (manuscript chest). The design, in fine thayo work (relief moulded lacquer) on Burmese teak, depicts scenes of 'poongyi' (monks) offering their 'tha-beik' (food-bowls) to the Buddha, who is also surrounded by different types of worshippers in conventional depictions of meditation, kneeling in adoration or holding food bowls. In the 19th century, chests in various sizes were important items of Burmese furniture. Some were quite small, and were used for storing personal and important domestic items. Others were larger and used to store bedding and, in monasteries, books and manuscripts. They were usually placed on stands, supported by four legs and could be decorated, like this one, with lacquer, or glass mosaic. This panel was obtained in the late 19th century from a Buddhist temple in Taungdwingyi (100 miles south of Mandalay) but it is likely that it was made near or in Mandalay where the craftsmen in lacquer specialized in making relief patterns of this sort. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 593-1906 |
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| Record created | October 31, 2000 |
| Record URL |
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