Antique Burmese Thayo Lacquered Storage Chest, 19th Century

Description

Antique Burmese
Thayo
Lacquered Storage Chest, 19th century.
Fine
thayo
-work (a relief modeled lacquer) applied and further painted with vermilion dyed lacquer and gold leafed. A delightful rendering of a battle scene on the hinged lid having two battling elephants on center. The sides dynamically rendered with bucolic domestic scenes. Each scene bordered by a tendril vine frame having reserve cartouches with birds, beasts or men within.  The elaborate 3-dimensional thayo lacquer is crafted of a putty of lacquer sap mixed with clay, saw-dust, or ash. The interior and back lacquered red.
Condition: Minor cracks and losses around the lid frame. Large repaired crack on the back side. Other losses and restorations commensurate with age and use otherwise fine condition.
Size: 15.5 in. high x 28 in. wide x 19.75 in. deep (394 x 710 x 502mm)
Weight: 43 lbs (Shipping weight approx. 50 lbs)
19th century.
Provenance:
From a residence designed by Kalef Alaton.
East & Orient Company, Dallas.
Private collection, Texas.
Lark Mason and Associates, New Braunfels, Texas.
For similar chests with Thayo figural scenes see:
- Christie’s South Kensington, 1 October 2002 “Holly Hse and 19 India St. - Two Scottish Collections”, lot 298, labeled “Bought from Samuel in Oxford Street, 1909...”
- Rhode Island School of Design Museum, accession no. 2004.12.4, ca. 1800 - 1885, gift of Doris Duke’s Southeast Asian Art Collection.
- Chiswick Auctions, London 14 November, 2016, lot 528, from the collection of Sir Arthur Havelock (1844-1908), believed to have been acquired during his tenure as Governor of Ceylon (1890-1895).