Bi-It (Cosmetic Box)
ca. 1st half 19th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Large cylindrical box, of very fine workmanship in Shan-Thai style, with slip-over cover and with two internal trays in black red and silver with scenes from an unknown story. The top of the cover is decorated with elephants, goats and trees and with 4 horse-men (repeated), beaters, trees, woman archer and a group of women swimming on the sides. The base of the bi-it is decorated with dancers. The insides and trays are plain scarlet.
Object details
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 4 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Made of woven split bamboo. The outside of the box is covered with black thitsi lacquer into which the design has been traced with a graver and filled in silver-paint. The ground is crossed-hatched in red and the whole is covered with a golden transparent varnish. |
| Brief description | Bamboo and lacquer cylindrical bi-it (cosmetic box) in black, red and silver with scenes from an unknown story, scarlet interior. Shan State, Burma, C19 |
| Physical description | Large cylindrical box, of very fine workmanship in Shan-Thai style, with slip-over cover and with two internal trays in black red and silver with scenes from an unknown story. The top of the cover is decorated with elephants, goats and trees and with 4 horse-men (repeated), beaters, trees, woman archer and a group of women swimming on the sides. The base of the bi-it is decorated with dancers. The insides and trays are plain scarlet. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Curzon Bequest |
| Object history | Bequest by the Right Hon. George Nathaniel, Marques Curzon of Kedleston, K.G., G.C.S.I., G.C.I.E., D.C.I. Given by the Marchioness Curzon and the Hon. Francis N. Curzon. Register entry 24 May 1927. |
| Association | |
| Bibliographic reference | Sylvia Fraser-Lu; Burmese Lacquerware
Bangkok 1985; p. 80; pl. 78
Arts of Asia; July/August 1996
Noel F. Singer; Nineteenth Century Court Lacquerware from Myanmar and the Box of "The Sorceress"; |
| Other numbers |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | IM.199-1927 |
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| Record created | November 29, 2000 |
| Record URL |
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