Antique Burmese Gilt Lacquered Kammavaca Manuscript, Consisting of 2 lacquered wood end covers and 16 double sided folios of lacquered cloth in red and black with gold leaf. This Kammacava manuscript is  ornamental with thickly applied lacquer and gilded shwe zawa decorations including dewa figures on both covers and some of the leaves. The Buddhist ordination text is in Pali written in ornate black “tamarind seed” Burmese square script. A Kammavaca of this type is commissioned by the devout, as a work of merit to be presented to monasteries when a son enters the Buddhist order or becomes ordained as a monk. The text usually is the monastic code of discipline.
Condition: Some areas of the gold leaf rubbed otherwise fine condition.
Overall: 23.25 inches long x 5.75 in. wide x 1.75 in. high (590 x 145 x 45 mm)
6 lbs. 2 oz. (2774g.)
19th century.


Provenance:
-From the Collection of Professor Roberto Severino, Washington, D.C.
-USA art market.

For similar examples see:
-Noel F. Singer, Arts of Asia May/Jun 1993, Kammavaca Texts, Their Covers and Binding Ribbons. pp. 97 - 106.
-New York Public Library, Spencer Collection, Universal Unique Identifier (UUID): fe4bc580-c6cf-012f-028d-58d385a7bc34
-Zacke Vienna, Asian Art Discoveries January 23, 2021, p.393, lot1324.
-British Library, Add MS 15289 & Or 12010a
-Christie’s South Kensington, 26 April 2012, Islamic and Indian Works of Art & Textiles, lot 515.