betel-box
- Museum number
- 1998,0723.56
- Description
-
Betel-box made of woven and coiled split bamboo, and lacquer. There are two internal trays. All the interiors are decorated with a plain cinnabar red lacquerof 'pigeon-blood' quality. The external lacquer decoration of both lid and drum, in pink on black lacquer, are in the 'Bagan khit' style, executed in the yun technique. This style of decoration is based on the plaster swags found in the temples of Pagan (= Bagan) which are ultimately based on the Indian motif of swags and garlands which descend from the mouths of the kirttimukha. Here, the motif of repeating descending swags is still clear (for a further discussion of this motif, see Isaacs and Blurton 2000, p. 116; for other examples in the Isaacs Collection, see 1998. 7-23. 56 and 86). This example, like others in the same style, bears an inscription indicating that it was given by secular donors to a monastery.
- Production date
- 1950s (circa)
- Dimensions
-
Diameter: 14.10 centimetres
-
Height: 12.70 centimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
-
- Location
- Not on display
- Condition
- Good condition.
- Acquisition date
- 1998
- Acquisition notes
- Bought by Mr. Isaacs from U Maung Maung at Pagan in December 1990 for 4,000 kyats.
- Department
- Asia
- Registration number
- 1998,0723.56
- Additional IDs
-
Miscellaneous number: Isaacs 56
