Lacquerware Antique Shwe Zawa Kun-it Box

Stunning Lacquerware Kun-it Box from Pagan. This canister was made in the first half of the 20th Century, from finely woven bamboo and woven with horse hair, which makes it flexible. The black lacquer is from tree sap, and it is decorated with Mandalay gold leaf, which was hand pounded.

Originally used as a betel-nut container, it also held orange peel, spices, lime, and edible leaves. The top design is a maw-pan lotus floral motif, while the sides have an alternating Shwe Hintha (goose) and lotus.
It has two solid bamboo trays which fit perfectly inside. The top tray has a golden horse, the secondary tray is black.

Please use it for decor only, not for use with food items. Listing is for one kun-it box only.

Dimensions: 5-1/4” H x 5-1/4" diameter

Condition: wear consistent with age, some rubbing on side and top. Please View photos close up.

Provenance: We were fortunate to acquire recently five unopened crates of old Burmese lacquerware. Our acquaintance that made these available to us had them stored in a warehouse since her parents who were antique importers in the 1960’s ceased doing their business. They had been shipped from Madras, India (now Chennai) and these five were never opened at the time. The Burmese lacquerware had ended up in India having been collected by workers from the Chettinad region of India that the British had hired to run administrative services in Rangoon and Mandalay. At Burma’s independence these workers returned home with this lacquerware. Opening the crates after almost 50 years was indeed an exciting moment to discover what they held. One first noticed how each piece was finely wrapped in a high quality printed paper which we endeavored to save as much as possible and then the old Madras newspapers filling the gaps between each item.

We have traveled extensively in Myanmar and have a familiarity with today’s lacquerware and it was immediately noticeable the difference in quality and craftsmanship. Many of the pieces were exquisite in the fine detail, worthy of inclusion into the reference books in which we saw the same pieces.

We stand with the people of Myanmar. Thank you for your interest.

We take special care with packing and shipping.

Custom fees are the responsibility of the buyer.

Follow us on Instagram.com/stonehouseartifacts
Visit our website at StoneHouseArtifacts.com