C7919 19th Century Lacquerware Alms Box 3-Piece Hand crafted Burma Mandalay

Description

C7919 19th Century Lacquerware Alms Box.  Buddhist.  3-Piece.  Hand crafted.  Elephants.  19
th
Century.  Mandalay. Northern Myanmar.  Burma.
From Mandalay - the city and royal capital of northern Burma.
Elephants, elephants, elephants . . .  all around and on the bottom.  Elephants are most revered among animals by Buddhists throughout Southeast Asia . . .and they appear all over this box along with rich and gorgeous designs.
Decorative boxes like this were - and still are - used to present alms to temple monks.  Alms are placed in the box and it is placed on a cloth in front of the monk for receipt.
This lacquerware was owned by an influential family from a small town near the famous Kyauktawgyi Buddhist temple.  Its size, handwork and construction show that a great deal of time was taken to create such a masterpiece.  I was told it was from the late 19
th
Century.
Three pieces.  It is very, very difficult to find lacquerware of this size and age….. and especially in almost perfect condition.
I have been a collector for over 60 years and have spent this time searching for the most unique, wonderous and culturally-significant pieces from far off places like Africa, Middle East, South & Southeast Asia, Central & South America and the Oceania Islands.  Most were acquired from the country of origin and/or from avid collectors.  All that I know about the item - through provenance or my own research - is shown in the listing.  It’s now time for me to thin out my collection. I am sure you will enjoy this item and its history as much as I have.