C7919 19th Century Lacquerware Alms Box.  Buddhist.  3-Piece.  Hand crafted.  Elephants.  19th 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 19th 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.