Mirror
ca. 1878-1885 (made)
| Place of origin |
The rectangular frame has a moulding along the base above which are small rectangles of green glass surrounded by borders of pieces of mirror; the columns on each side are of mirror glass, curved in section, with borders of small discs of green glass and a floral medallion of red and blue glass in the centre; the top of the frame is identical with the bottom. Outside the frame, on each side, are two makaras of carved wood and lacquer set with small discs of red and green glass and mirror; over the top is an architrave, similar to that formed in Burmese architecture, in the form of floral motifs of carved wood and lacquer set with red, green and blue glass and mirror glass; in the centre is a peacock of moulded lacquer set with red and green glass.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Carved wood covered in gilded lacquer and set with mirror and glass inlay using the hman-zi shwei-cha technique. |
| Brief description | Burmese mirror of lacquered wood set with coloured glass and pieces of mirror. Konbaung Dynasty (1752-1885). Ornately carved with a central peacock, other animals and floral and foliate motifs. ca. 1878-1885 |
| Physical description | The rectangular frame has a moulding along the base above which are small rectangles of green glass surrounded by borders of pieces of mirror; the columns on each side are of mirror glass, curved in section, with borders of small discs of green glass and a floral medallion of red and blue glass in the centre; the top of the frame is identical with the bottom. Outside the frame, on each side, are two makaras of carved wood and lacquer set with small discs of red and green glass and mirror; over the top is an architrave, similar to that formed in Burmese architecture, in the form of floral motifs of carved wood and lacquer set with red, green and blue glass and mirror glass; in the centre is a peacock of moulded lacquer set with red and green glass. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Credit line | Given by Mrs. A.E. McKay |
| Object history | Claimed to have formed part of the furnishings of King Thibaw's Palace at Mandalay. The peacock motif indicates a royal provenance. Taken from the palace after the siege of Mandalay in January 1886 by General Sir Alfred Taylor |
| Bibliographic reference | Burmese art / John Lowry. London: H. M. Stationery Office, 1974 Number: 0112901794 :
cat. no. 40 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IS.7-1968 |
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| Record created | January 17, 2001 |
| Record URL |
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