betel-box
- Museum number
- 1998,0723.194
- Description
-
Betel-box made of woven (plaited basketry) and coiled split bamboo and lacquer, with a slightly domed lid typical of the Gaduganan style. There are two internal trays of somewhat heavy construction and with dull red interior (top tray) and reddish brown interior (bottom tray); the exterior of the trays is black. The top of the lid is decorated, in the yun technique, with an unusual design of highly stylised butterflies in ochre and black on a red and black 'scribbled' design which is surely meant to imitate basketry; around the edge is a yellow yun design imitating inlaid bare bamboo. The side of the lid has real inlaid bare bamboo strips at the top and bottom, as well as imitation ones lower down, while the main register of decoration is again of the 'scribbling' type, black yun on red, imitating basketry. The interior of the lid is plain brownish red, a typical feature. The base of the drum of the box, which is badly broken, is also decorated in yun with imitation radial basketry. The exterior of the sides of the drum are decorated, for the most part, with black and red yun lines running horizontally around the vessel, and at the bottom with stepped-out band of moulded decoration in thayo (lacquer putty), imitating turned wooden pegs; this has been re-lacquered.
- Production date
- 20thC (early)-20thC (mid)
- Dimensions
-
Diameter: 16.50 centimetres
-
Height: 14.80 centimetres
- Location
- Not on display
- Condition
- Chipped and cracked in a number of places. The base is holed and has a number of bad cracks in it. The rim of the lid is now very uneven and the rim of the drum is badly chipped. The trays are also cracked and the bottom tray is now stapled. Now in delicate condition.
- Acquisition date
- 1998
- Acquisition notes
- Bought by Mr. Isaacs from U Maung Maung in Pagan for 3,000 kyats in December 1992.
- Department
- Asia
- Registration number
- 1998,0723.194
- Additional IDs
-
Miscellaneous number: Isaacs 198
