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Burmese lacquer

Flat gold decorated box with an elephant motif

Collar box thitta
Accession Number 50.4.199

Lacquer is made from the sap of a tree, which sets hard to form a water-resistant surface. The Burmese have used and prized lacquered containers for hundreds of years.

Lacquer objects were used:

to store and serve food
to present offerings at Buddhist temples
to present to visiting officials

Many lacquer objects in this museum were made in the early 20th century for export to Europe.

The Imperial Institute in Kensington, London donated all of these objects. Some were made by the Co-operative Hita Society in Mandalay. This society was set up in 1920 as an attempt by the British to create equal trading that was free from the extortion practised by moneylenders banya.