Description (Inscription)
[Singer, Noel Francis] 1) 'In the Hmawyon forest, as Thida had requested the capture of the deer Yama Mintha chases it'. 2) 'In the Hmawyon forest, Yama, Theeda and Letkhana meet the demons and ask them questions'. 3) 'In the Hmawyon forest, the two Datthakha demons meet Yama, Thida and Letkhana'.
Event Date
Author: Annie Mckay

Description (Labels & Markings)
Typed label adhered to back of the tray reads '40'. This is in reference to an inventory of lacquerware seen amongst the collector's paperwork written on 14th April 1999.
Event Date 14/04/1999
Author: Annie Mckay

Description (Physical description)
A larger than average lin-bar, a platter used for offerings of flowers and fruit, carved from a single piece of wood, painted with black lacquer and gilt. The decoration is called with shwe-za-wa. The central medallion depicts two scenes from the Yama-zat (Ramayana) with captions explaining each scene. This is enclosed by a ring of tightly packed lotus petals, which in turn is encircled by a broader band of buds, swirling foliage and birds. The birds are shown as if the viewer were looking up into the branches. Unlike in other examples of lin-bars, the birds are not shown as resting on the branches but rather the birds are shown as flying.
The two scenes are not in proper sequence to the story. The first scene at the bottom depicts Yama Mintha (Prince Rama), Thida (Sita) and Letkhana (Lakshmana, Rama's younger brother) being confronted by two belu-demons armed with spears. The second scene on the top of the tray shows Rama shooting at the golden deer, the sister of Ravana in disguise).
The tray has previously been split into two, however the two pieces have been put back together by what appears to be gilt, it is possibly glue which has then been covered in gilt. The back of the tray is slightly damaged, with some of the black lacquer having come off. Nine pieces of sellotape are attached to the back, with visible marks showing more sellotape has previously been attached.
Event Date 14/11/2017
Author: Annie McKay