{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O10747"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O10747/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021NC1113/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021NC1113/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2021NC1113","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AT9901","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017JU6300","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O10747/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O10747","accessionNumber":"IS.246&A-1964","objectType":"Betel box","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This gold and jewelled container once formed part of the regalia of King Thibaw, the last king of Burma (r.1878-1885). The <i>karaweik</i>, a mythical bird, is a royal symbol associated with wealth, power and longevity. The container was used at the royal palace at Mandalay as part of a betel paraphernalia set. The offering of betel (a mildly narcotic chewing quid) was an essential element of traditional Burmese society. Every household, including the royal family's, had a set of utensils for its preparation. Betel leaves, used to wrap the blend of areca-nut shavings, lime and spices, were stored in the <i>karaweik</i> container. \r\n\r\nThis container was looted from the royal palace at Mandalay by the British in 1885 during the Third Anglo-Burmese War. It was later placed under the custodianship of the Victoria and Albert Museum with 166 other objects forming the Burmese royal regaila. The entirety of the regalia was returned to the Government of Burma in 1964. This <i>karaweik</i> betel box (IS.246&amp;A-1964) was then given to the British Government by General Ne Win as a token of friendship and goodwill and 'in recognition of the Victoria and Albert Museum's safekeeping' of the Burmese royal regalia from 1886 to 1964.","physicalDescription":"A vessel and cover on a stand in the shape of a <i>karaweik,</i>a mythical  bird associated with royalty, wealth and power in Myanmar. The vessel is made of repousse gold and decorated with filigree and inlaid rubies and imitation emeralds suggesting a wealth of overlapping body feathers and curled wings. The bird's feet and pointed beak are clearly defined, as is its upturned tail, and the spurs on its feet. The waisted stand is decorated with panels of floral ornament and at each end a leaf-shaped extension with foliage motifs, curves upwards to support the body of the stand.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"gold","id":"AAT11021"},{"text":"ruby","id":"AAT11082"},{"text":"ruby","id":"AAT11082"},{"text":"green glass","id":"AAT210980"}],"techniques":[{"text":"raising","id":"AAT237068"},{"text":"filigree","id":"AAT53779"},{"text":"embossed","id":""}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Filigree work in gold on a gold ground, outlined with bands of rubies and imitation emeralds, with some embossing; eyes of rubies (one now missing)","categories":[{"text":"Gemstones","id":"THES270329"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"}],"styles":[{"text":"Konbaung","id":"x30379"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2021NC1113","2006AT9901","2017JU6300"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"47A","id":"THES49797"},"free":"","case":"16","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"47A","id":"THES49797"},"free":"","case":"16","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"containers","id":"AAT197197"}],[{"text":"covers (closures)","id":"AAT197210"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Mandalay (City)","id":"x30359"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"3rd quarter 19th century","earliest":"1850-01-01","latest":"1875-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Presented by the Government of Burma in generous recognition of the Victoria and Albert Museum's safekeeping of the Mandalay Regalia (1886 to 1964).\r\n\r\n","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"41.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"35.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"18","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"This container formed part of the  royal regalia of King Thibaw, the last King of Burma. The regalia was looted and taken as indemnity by the British in the Third Anglo-Burmese War following the capture of Mandalay in 1885. It was later placed under the custodianship of the Victoria and Albert Museum with 166 other objects forming the regaila (museum nos. IS.144 to 294-1890). The entirety of the regalia was returned to the Government of Burma in 1964. This <i>karaweik </i>betel box (then IS.159-1890, now numbered IS.246&A-1964) was given to the British Government by General Ne Win as a token of friendship and goodwill.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Burmese royal <i>kun-it</i> (betel box) on a stand in the shape of a <i>karaweik</i> or mythical bird, Konbaung Dynasty (1752-1885), ca. 1850-1875","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Burmese art / John Lowry. London: H. M. Stationery Office, 1974 Number: 0112901794 :","id":"AUTH339985"},"details":"cat. no. 29","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Canberra: National Museum of Australia; <font -u>Gold and Civilisation</font>, exhibition 2001; catalogue; p. 182, ill. 183"},{"reference":{"text":"Ayers, J. Oriental Art in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London 1983, ISBN 0-85667-120-7","id":"AUTH347571"},"details":"p. 92","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"Burma to Myanmar","id":"AUTH399604"},"details":"p. 206 and fig. 8.8","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Yule, Capt (later Col. Sir) Henry. <font -u>Narrative of the Mission to The Court of Ava in 1855</font> London: Smith, Elder, and Co., frontispiece (illustration of similar karaweik as seen in the royal regalia of King Mindon)."},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"John Clarke. 2020. “On the Road Back to Mandalay: The Burmese Regalia – Seizure, Display and Return to Myanmar in 1964.”   In Returning Southeast Asia’s Past. Edited by Louise Tythacott and Panggah Ardiyansyah. Singapore: National University of Singapore Press."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Unique","id":"THES48864"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[{"text":"Mandalay","id":"x30359"}],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[{"text":"","id":""}],"contentOthers":[{"text":"birds","id":"x35043"},{"text":"karaweik","id":"x35779"}],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"mythology","id":"AAT55985"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"<b>3. Betel-Nut Container</b>\r\n1780-1885, Konbaung period\r\n\r\nThis container formed part of the regalia of King Thibaw, the last monarch of Burma (now Myanmar). In 1885, British forces overthrew the king and seized the royal collection. It was displayed at this museum until it was returned to Burma in 1964. However, as a gesture of thanks for the museum's custodianship of the regalia, which might otherwise have been sold or melted down, the Burmese government gave the container back to the V&A.  \r\n\r\nGold set with rubies and imitation emeralds\r\nBurma\r\n  \r\nPresented by the Government of Burma in generous recognition of the Victoria and Albert Museum's safekeeping of the Mandalay Regalia (1886-1964)\r\n\r\nMuseum no. IS.246&A-1964\r\n","date":{"text":"17/05/2021","earliest":"2021-05-17","latest":"2021-05-17"}},{"text":"Betel-Nut Container\r\n1780–1885\r\nKonbaung period\r\nThis container, in the form of the sacred goose (hamsa),\r\nwas part of the regalia of King Thibaw, the last Burmese\r\nmonarch. At the end of the Third Burmese War, in 1885,\r\nthe British government requisitioned the regalia as\r\nindemnity and transferred it to the V&amp;A. When the regalia\r\nwas returned in 1964, the Burmese government gave the\r\ncontainer to Britain as a token of friendship\r\nGold set with rubies and\r\nimitation emeralds\r\nBurma\r\nPresented by the Government of\r\nBurma in generous recognition\r\nof the Victoria and Albert\r\nMuseum’s safekeeping of the\r\nMandalay Regalia (1886–1964)\r\nMuseum no. IS.246&A-1964","date":{"text":"14/06/2011","earliest":"2011-06-14","latest":"2011-06-14"}}],"partNumbers":["IS.246-1964","IS.246A-1964"],"accessionNumberNum":"246","accessionNumberPrefix":"IS","accessionYear":1964,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"Previous number","id":"THES51695"},"number":"IS.159-1890"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Container","Cover"],"assets":["2023NP0900"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-04-09","recordCreationDate":"1999-03-25","availableToBook":false}}