Burmese Lacquer Tumbler - Ca 1930

Hand-crafted in Burma (Myanmar) in the early 20th century, this small lacquer tumbler (khwet) showcases the precision and rhythm of the traditional yun technique. Layers of red cinnabar lacquer have been incised to reveal complex black geometric banding, a style characteristic of the lacquer workshops of Bagan and Mandalay and well documented in Isaacs & Blurton’s Visions from the Golden Land: Burma & The Art of Lacquer. Tumblers of this type were used domestically for serving betel mixtures, drinking water, or holding small household items, and were also found in monastic offering sets.

Along its upper register, the vessel bears a later inscription painted in green — a sequence of Tamil letters, added by hand. This detail reflects the presence of Tamil merchant and banking communities active across Myanmar during the colonial era, particularly in Yangon, Mawlamyine, and Mandalay. These communities routinely marked their lacquerware with Tamil initials for household ownership, temple allocation, or inventory tracking, creating a fascinating intersection of Burmese craftsmanship and South Indian diaspora life.

• Origin: Burma (Myanmar)
• Date: Early 20th century
• Material: Lacquer over woven/coiled substrate, traditional yun technique
• Decoration: Incised black-on-red geometric banding
• Markings: Later Tamil ownership or inventory initials in green paint
• Condition: Good antique condition with surface wear consistent with age and use
• Dimensions: Width 9 × Depth 9 × Height 8.5 cm
• Reference: Comparable examples discussed in Isaacs & Blurton, Visions from the Golden Land: Burma & The Art of Lacquer

A compact yet richly expressive Burmese lacquer khwet tumbler, carrying both the artistry of its makers and the imprint of Tamil merchant life in early 20th-century Myanmar.