Projects - World Cultures Online - RAMM

Description

This magnificant late 19th century head-dress, used for dance or theatre, is probably from a royal court. The rich effect of the decoration is caused by the combination of flashing 'jewels' (fragments of coloured glass) on a gold leaf background. Each of the tiers of the head-dress is made of metal and slots down on to the wooden frame. The shape of the crown recalls that worn by Buddha representations where his royalty is being emphasised. Reproduced by kind permission of The British Museum.

Description

Manuscript chests were used to store palm-leaf manuscripts in monasteries, and were often eloabarately decorated. This late 18th or early 19th century panel has been decorated with gold leaf gilding on black lacquer (the 'shwe zawa' technique). The scenes on the panel illustrate scenes from the Jataka Tales, which tell the Life of the Buddha. One scene in the top left-hand corner is from the Mahosadha Jataka and shows the Mahosadha (The Buddha) being tested by the king who tells him to find a jewel which is seen in a lake. The Buddha quickly realises that the jewel is in fact hidden in an over-hanging palm-tree and retrieves it. Reproduced by kind permission of The British Museum.

Description

Manuscript chests were used to store palm-leaf manuscripts in monasteries, and were often eloabarately decorated. This early 20th century chest has been lacquered black and retains traces of the original gold leaf gilding. The scenes on the front and sides of the chest are from the Life of the Buddha. On the right are shown three of the sights that prompted Siddhartha's decision to renounce royal luxury - an old man, a sick man and an ascetic mendicant (a 'religious beggar'). Reproduced by kind permission of The British Museum.

Description

This early 20th century Betel-box is decorated with scenes from the Indian epic the Ramayana. The design has been engraved with a fine point and filled with colour - red, green and yellow - on a black lacquer background. Round the drum we can see Lakshmana looking after his sister-in-law, Sita, Rama's wife, whilst Rama pursues the golden deer , in actual fact Ma Kambi in disguise. The deer, wears the mask of an ogress to reveal her true nature. The Ramayana and mask-wearing are important features of Burmese theatre. In the past every household in Burma had at least one lacquer betel-box. The betel-chewing habit, universally enjoyed daily by men and women throughout Southeast Asia for many centuries, is now rapidly being replaced by cigarette smoking. The boxes were used to hold all the ingredients of the little leaf-wrapped packets which are stowed in the side of the mouth between the cheek and the teeth and slowly savoured by squeezing them every now and then with the tongue. The betel packet has three essential ingredients: the leaf of the betel pepper vine, slaked lime, and the araca nut. Optional extra ingredients include spices, aniseed, liquorice, citrus peal and tobacco. Reproduced by kind permission of The British Museum.

Description

This bowl was made in 1920. It is a type produced in very large numbers even today. The split bamboo woven with horse hair gives it a distinctive flexible frame which is decorated inside and out in the black and gold 'shwe zawa' technique. The outside of the bowl depicts scenes probably from the Ramayana. There are four episodes which take place in the forest. The two which can be seen in this photograph are: (1) a female figure sitting on a rock with a kneeling male figure in the foreground, (2) a running male figure with upraised staff chasing two masked ogres. On the base of the bowl is a bird/lion beast. Reproduced by kind permission of The British Museum.

Description

This mid-20th century Betel-box is made of fine split bamboo basketry, raised on a light wooden base of decorative fretwork. The outside is lacquered black and the decoration painted on in scarlet. In the past every household in Burma had at least one lacquer betel-box. The betel chewing habit universally enjoyed daily by men and women throughout Southeast Asia for many centuries is now rapidly being replaced by cigarette smoking. The boxes were used to hold all the ingredients of the little leaf-wrapped packets which are stowed in the side of the mouth between the cheek and the teeth and slowly savoured by squeezing them every now and then with the tongue. The betel packet has three essential ingredients: the leaf of the betel pepper vine, slaked lime, and the araca nut. Optional extra ingredients include spices, aniseed, liquorice, citrus peal and tobacco. Reproduced by kind permission of The British Museum.

Description

These tumbler-shaped cups are made of bamboo basketry, lacquered and painted with decoarative patterns using acrylic paint. This technique is very new and much quicker than traditional techniques. These are sold as cheap and cheerful tourist souvenirs for as little as five pence each. Reproduced by kind permission of The British Museum.

Description

This Betel-box was made in 1991. It is made of a foundation of coiled bamboo which was smoothed on a lathe before receiving several coats of lacquer and then 'shwe zawa' gold leaf decoration. Such miniture betel-boxes are used for cosmetics or decorative display rather than their original use. In the past every household in Burma had at least one lacquer betel-box. The betel chewing habit universally enjoyed daily by men and women throughout Southeast Asia for many centuries is now rapidly being replaced by cigarette smoking. The boxes were used to hold all the ingredients of the little leaf wrapped packets which are stowed in the side of the mouth between the cheek and the teeth and slowly savoured by squeezing them every now and then with the tongue. The betel packet has three essential ingredients: the leaf of the betel pepper vine, slaked lime, and the araca nut. Optional extra ingredients include spices, aniseed, liquorice, citrus peal and tobacco. Reproduced by kind permission of The British Museum.

Description

This large late 19th century covered bowl is made from coiled and woven split bamboo lacquered black with yellow engraving (yellow 'yun'). On the body of the bowl there are three Burmese lions drawn in the classic style. Above, on the sides of the cover, are three classically drawn Hintha birds (variously described as a swan, a goose or even a peacock, the Hintha bird is closely associated with royalty). This bowl would have been used for serving food such as cooked rice or fruit. Reproduced by kind permission of The British Museum.

Description

This screen, commissioned in 1998 by The British Museum, is decorated with scenes from the Jataka Tales, in the colour engraving 'yun' style. Reproduced by kind permission of The British Museum.