IDNO

N.131082.HNL

Description

"Padaung women. December 1938." [Hornell's caption]

Portrait of three Kayan (historically Padaung) women and a man, possibly European, on the deck of the S.S. Burma, sailing from Birkenhead. The women are wearing brass coil neck-rings and brass coils on their calves. They are looking out from the edge of the deck. [WM 17/03/2016]

Place

SE Asia; Europe British Isles; Myanmar; United Kingdom; Yangon; England; Birkenhead [Burma; Rangoon]

Cultural Affliation

Kayan [historically Padaung]

Named Person

Photographer

Hornell, James

Collector / Expedition

Hornell, James

Date

11 December 1938

Collection Name

Hornell Collection

Source

Hornell, Charlotte (Mrs)

Format

Film Negative Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

N.131072.HNL - P.131172.HNL were found unaccessioned in Drawer C.44.6 of the Photo Store, in a cardboard box, now numbered C706/.

N.131073.HNL - N.131083.HNL were found in a paper negative sleeve, now numbered C706/2.

Date: Photograph refers to Hornell's diary 10065 (one volume out of box, 13 of 15).
Entry, 25th November 1938: "Left London at 10.10am for Birkenhead, where at 4.30pm I boarded the Henderson liner Burma, en route to Post Sudan. Few passengers aboard. A picturesque group consist of several (four) Padaung women." [WM 28/04/2016]

Context: On the reason for the four Kayan (Padaung) women being aboard the S.S. Burma, Hornell notes: "They have been in England for two seasons, on exhibition at Olympia and the Glasgow Exhibition." The "Glasgow Exhibition" refers to the Empire Exhibition, Scotland 1938, in which there was a Burmese Pavilion. It is probable that the "exhibition at Olympia" refers to the Betram Mills Circus, which took place at the Olympia Exhibition building, Kensington, London. [WM 28/04/2016]

The four Kayan women are named: Swai Tha Mu (aged 16), Paung Mu (21), Kan Mu (22), Swai Mu (21). They are travelling with an accompanying male (not photographed), called Maung Suri (33), who is acting as interpreter. There are also two children, a girl aged 3-months and a 1-year-old boy. Hornell notes: "A baby girl was born to one of the women while at the Glasgow Exhibition, in consequence she has received the names Margaret Empirex. A boy was born previously and as the group were then on show at Olympia, he was given the Christian names of Peter Olympia." [WM 28/04/2016]