Context (Acquisition Details)
Given to UCMAA by sisters Julia and Anita Rosenak on behalf of their late mother, Stella Rosenak. Mrs. Rosenak had offered the carvings to Newnham College, Cambridge, which put her in contact with UCMAA. Mrs. Rosenak was a student at Newnham in the days before degrees were available to women and was keen that the University should have the carvings.

The sisters tell the following story, 'The carving was purchased in Burma by their parents when they lived in Burma, between 1954 and 1957. The father worked for the United Nations as an engineer, helping to build bridges. The mother taught English in Rangoon. They purchased the carvings from the Swagadon Pagoda in Rangoon when it was being refurbished. Pieces of the pagoda were lying in the road. According to Buddhist tradition, they donated money to the rebuilding of the pagoda, via a Buddhist monk who they met, in exchange for carvings. Another, smaller, carving has been kept by the sisters. Apparently, locals were afraid to buy them as they are potentially dangerous - they don’t like being disturbed. The carving was placed in a position of honour in the parents’ house in Wimbledon - it was attached to the wall in their living room. It is made from a single teak tree-trunk and would originally have been covered in gold leaf.'
Event Date 2003
Author: maa

Description (Physical description)
Tall, narrow carving made from one piece of wood. The bottom level of the carving represents two figures, one male and one possibly female. Both figures have their arms raised. The male figure’s right arm is broken off and missing, as is the end of his right foot. The (possibly) female figure’s left arm has been broken and glued back together. On the layer above this, two more figures are carved, again one male and one possibly female. The man sits cross-legged and has one arm raised - the fingers are broken off and missing, as is the tip of his nose. The (possibly) female is kneeling. Above these figures a large, hollow egg-shaped form is carved, with patterns of foliage. Above this, a single (possibly) female figure is carved, with her left arm raised. The fingers, as well as her entire right arm, are broken off and missing. The carving is topped with a pointed flower form. The object bears traces of pigment and gilding.
The carvings are all on the same side of the sculpture. The back of the sculpture is flat and plain, where it has been attached to a wall. Two metal display mounts are screwed into the back of the object. The wood has fairly extensive insect damage and is cracked and chipped in numerous places. The uppermost figure has a splash of white paint on her face. The wood is exuding resin in several places. There are old insect remains attached to the object in places.
Event Date 22/5/2003
Author: maa

Context (Display)
On display in the Maudslay Hall, from May 2012. Display label reads, 'Finial Carving / This carving from a single piece of teak was once covered in gold leaf and formed part of the entrance to the Swedagon Pagoda, the most sacred Buddhist site in Burma. It was removed during refurbishment of the pagoda in the 1950s, and acquired by a British couple in exchange for a donation to the renovation fund. Local people were afraid to buy such carvings as they were potentially dangerous. / Yangon (Rangoon), Burma. Collected by Stella Rosenak, 1954-7. Donated by julia and Anita Rosenak. 2003.74'

Cf. Photograph by Frederick Oertel, 1892. P.57654.ACH2 (printed on board with display text above), with caption reads, 'Entrance to the Swedagon Pagoda Rangoon, Burma.'
Event Date 5/2012
Author: Guey-Mei Hsu

Context (References)
Photographed as part of the Art UK Sculpture project, August - September 2019. The project aims to create a free-to-access online photographic showcase of publicly owned sculpture. The three-year project focuses on sculpture dating from the last 1,000 years, held in public collections and outdoor locations across the UK



Event Date 8/2019
Author: rachel hand