{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O60924"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O60924/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AV2471/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AV2471/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AV2471","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O60924/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O60924","accessionNumber":"IS.29-1974","objectType":"Painting","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"The painting accurately illustrates an exhibition of elephant taming at the Court of Ava (Mandalay) during the latter part of the Konbaung Dynasty (1752-1885), a traditional practice which had existed since at least the 15th century. The scene also includes depictions of many other courtly pursuits. \r\n\r\nAt the top of the picture, a king and queen are seen in the royal pavilion attended by their ministers. In the centre is an enclosure consisting of a brick wall, with a balcony running all the way round at the top, supported by timber columns. At the centre of this enclosure is another pavilion protected by a timber fence. Spectators are seated all around the top, on the balcony and inside the arcade formed by timber supports, watching a wild elephant being baited by several men inside the enclosure.\r\n\r\nAt top left a <i>pwe</i> (a theatrical performance) is taking place, with an orchestra featuring Burmese instruments, including  the <i>patt waing</i> (drum circle), <i>kyi waing</i> (gong circle) and <i>pat-ma</i> (suspended base drum). At top right a pony race takes place within a corner of the moated palace (Mandalay) compound with one of the entrances. Provincial rulers on elephants and horseback followed by attendants carrying their regalia process on the right and left of the picture. A group of royal cavalry on the lower left are distinguished by their uniforms and horses livery. And, at the bottom of the picture, female elephants and their calves are being driven towards the entrance to the enclosure by tame elephants with their mahouts.\r\n\r\nFigures are portrayed in costumes of the period--the women in trailing <i>hta-meins</i>, the men in <i>pah-soes</i> worn either as a type of sarong or drawn up to form pantaloons, revealing the tattooing which Burmese men underwent as a form of talisman against evil.","physicalDescription":"Episodic treatment of the elephant taming spectacle. The horizon is placed high up and perspective is achieved partly by a bird's eye view effect.\r\nIn the centre is an enclosure consisting of a brick wall with a balcony running all the way round at the top supported by timber columns on the inside.\r\nAt one end, at the top of the picture, a king and queen are seen in the royal pavilion attended by their ministers.\r\nIn the centre of the enclosure is another pavilion protected by a timber fence. \r\nSpectators are seated all round the top, on the balcony, and inside the arcade formed by timber supports within\r\nInside the enclosure a wild elephant is being baited by several men.\r\nAt the top left a pwe (dance-drama) with orchestra featuring Burmese instruments in particular the patt waing (drum circle), kyi waing (gong circle) and pat-ma (suspended base drum).\r\nTop right depicts pony racing within a corner of the moated palace (Mandalay) compound with one of the entrances.\r\nProvincial rulers on elephants and horseback followed by attendants carrying their regalia to the right and left of the picture. A group of royal cavalry on the lower left are distinguished by their uniforms and horses livery. At the bottom of the picture female elephants and their calves are being driven towards the entrance to the enclosure by tame elephants with their mahouts.\r\nFigures are portrayed in costumes of the period - the women in trailing hta-meins, the men in pah-soes worn either as a type of sarong or drawn up to form pantaloons. This latter reveals the prodigious tattooing which Burmese men underwent as a form of talisman against evil. The hta-meins and pah-soes feature the Burmese silk acheik-luntaya cloth.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"cotton","id":"AAT14067"},{"text":"gouache","id":"AAT70114"},{"text":"gold paint","id":"x30249"}],"techniques":[{"text":"weaving","id":"AAT53642"},{"text":"painting","id":"AAT178674"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Gouache, with partial gilding, on prepared cotton cloth","categories":[],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2006AV2471"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"012","id":"THES406592"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Painting","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Burma","id":"x30037"},"association":{"text":"painted","id":"x30138"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"late 19th century","earliest":"1850-01-01","latest":"1900-12-31"},"association":{"text":"painted","id":"x30138"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Mr. Alfred E. Bestall","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"108","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"86.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"A less elaborate painting, by Saya Chone, of the same subject is illustraetd in Scogtt O'Connor, Mandalay, p. 165 and a photograph ibid. p.381\n\nHistorical significance: The painting accurately illustrates Yule's text (see Fur. Ref) of the exhibition of elephant taming and other aspects of Burmese life at the Court of Ava (Mandalay) during the latter part of the Konbaung Dynasty (1752-1885).\r\nThe traditional practises depicted here had been in existence since at least the fifteenth century, their usage over the centuries resulting in occasional fatalities, both of humans and elephants.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Burmese Elephant Taming painted in gouache with partial gilding on prepared cotton cloth.Bird's eye view episodic treatment of the subject. It confirms contemporary accounts of such spectacles at the Court of Ava during the latter part of the Konbaung Dynasty (1752-1885). ca. late 19th century.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Art of Asia 1975\r\nJohn Lowry; <font -u>Burmese Art at the Victoria and Albert Museum</font>; p. 26\r\n\r\nCapt. Yule's <i>Mission to the Court of Ava</i> 1855 pp. 103-105 & 121\r\n\r\nSee also IS 45-1981 - Court Costume parabaik."},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Captain Yule's <font -u>Mission to the Court of Ava</font>; 1855; pp. 105 & 121"}],"production":"Attribution note: In traditional Burmese style incidents are placed over the picture with a sense of balance but without regard to perspective.","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["IS.29-1974"],"accessionNumberNum":"29","accessionNumberPrefix":"IS","accessionYear":1974,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-07","recordCreationDate":"2001-07-11","availableToBook":true}}