{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O10206"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O10206/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM9995/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM9995/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AM9995","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JL3218","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O10206/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O10206","accessionNumber":"06207(IS)","objectType":"Headdress","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"The high quality of this magnificent gilded, lacquer tiered headdress studded with brilliants was most likely a product of the court of Mandalay. Its shape is highly conventional and is similar to the crowns worn by Jambhupati Buddhas, royalty and minor deities. It was probably intended to be worn by an actor impersonating the king of Celestial Beings in a court  <i>pwe</i> (theatrical production), and would have formed part of a costume based on 19th century ceremonial dress worn by Burmese kings on state occasions.\r\n\r\nThe first Burmese court play was written in the early 18th century, and  both puppet plays and theatrical performances with actors became very popular throughout Burma in the 18th and 19th centuries. These plays were usually linked to an incident from Burmese history or were based on one of the Buddhist Jatakas (stories about the Buddha's previous incarnations).","physicalDescription":"A tall multitiered theatrical headdress. Shaped like a close fitting helmet which curves across the forehead and extends over the ears and neck. It rises  in nine tapering leafy tiers to a voluted finial.  The base is decorated with stylised flower heads.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"wood","id":"AAT11914"},{"text":"sheet metal","id":"AAT223016"},{"text":"glass","id":"AAT10797"}],"techniques":[{"text":"gilding","id":"AAT53789"},{"text":"lacquered","id":"AAT53796"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Lacquer, wood and sheet metal, gilded and inlaid with pieces of glass","categories":[{"text":"Lacquerware","id":"THES49004"},{"text":"Hardstone","id":"THES270137"},{"text":"Dance","id":"THES252984"},{"text":"India Museum","id":"THES286062"},{"text":"Court","id":"THES276192"}],"styles":[{"text":"konbaung","id":"x30379"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2006AM9995","2016JL3218"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"47A (VA)","id":"THES49797"},"free":"","case":"15","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Headdress","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Burma","id":"x30037"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"before 1880","earliest":null,"latest":"1879-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"38","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"20","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Inscribed inside helmet: \"Bengal, 3106 (not 1880 Slip Number), Burmah\"","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"English","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"Label","note":"Label; English"}],"objectHistory":"Historical significance: A shape similar to the crowns worn by Burmese kings of  the late Konbaung Dynasty and those seen on Jambhupati Buddhas, and minor deities.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Wood & sheet metal theatrical headdress. Konbaung Dynasty (1752-1885). Lacquered and gilt set with pieces of mirror and imitation stones. Before 1880","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Isaacs, Ralph & Blurton, Richard T, <i>Visions from the Golden Land :Burma and the art of lacquer</i>, London, British Museum, 2000","id":"AUTH353313"},"details":"Cat.129","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"Burmese art / John Lowry. London: H. M. Stationery Office, 1974 Number: 0112901794 :","id":"AUTH339985"},"details":"cat. no. 48","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"Ayers, J. Oriental Art in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London 1983, ISBN 0-85667-120-7","id":"AUTH347571"},"details":"p. 96","free":""}],"production":"Attribution note: Used for dance or the theatre. The high quality of workmanship and material of this headdress suggests that it was probably a product for the Mandalay Court.","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"costume","id":"AAT209261"}],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"theatre","id":"x32431"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"1. Theatrical Headdress\r\n1800–80\r\nKonbaung period\r\nThe high quality of this magnificent headdress suggests\r\nthat it was made at the Burmese court. It is similar in shape\r\nto the crowns worn by royalty, minor deities and Jambupati\r\nBuddhas (see top shelf), but was probably made for a theatrical\r\nproduction. There it would have been worn by an actor\r\nimpersonating the king of Celestial Beings.\r\nLacquer, wood and sheet metal, gilded and inlaid with pieces of glass\r\nBurma (probably Mandalay)\r\nMuseum no. 06207(IS)","date":{"text":"14/06/2011","earliest":"2011-06-14","latest":"2011-06-14"}},{"text":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}},{"text":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}},{"text":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}},{"text":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}},{"text":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}}],"partNumbers":["06207(IS)"],"accessionNumberNum":"06207","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":null,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-15","recordCreationDate":"1999-02-01","availableToBook":false}}