Hand-carved in Burma circa 1850 during the late Konbaung Dynasty, this commanding teak sculpture depicts a traditional ceremonial gong bearer. Reflecting the artistic renaissance of Myanmar’s final royal golden age, the figure stands poised with its original wooden mallet and a brilliantly decorated table gong. The shield-like gong face showcases magnificent shwe zawa lacquerwork, featuring intricate scrolling motifs meticulously rendered in gold leaf against a dark lacquer ground. The attendant wears an elite, deeply chiseled acheik-patterned longyi waist wrap, capturing the serene dignity and fine craftsmanship commissioned for upper-class residences or Buddhist monasteries. Evoking both protection and ceremonial authority, this museum-quality masterpiece boasts verified historical authenticity, offering an extraordinary acquisition for collectors of elite Southeast Asian art

Provenance

Acquired through Cadogan Tate Limited, London, on June 18, 2003; commercial invoice records item as an antique Burmese statue with gong and mallet, circa 1850, collected from Michael Telfer-Smollet, 88 Portobello Road, London W.11.