{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O84011"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O84011/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AF5044/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AF5044/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AF5044","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O84011/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O84011","accessionNumber":"IS.180-1950","objectType":"Painting","titles":[{"title":"Ambassador of the King of Burma seated with Major Phayre","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This is one of three paintings (along with IS.179-1950 and IS.181-1950) which illustrate the visit of the Burmese King Mindon's envoy to Calcutta in 1854.  \r\n\r\nAt the end of 1854, following the second Anglo-Burmese war of 1852, after which southern Burma fell to British rule, the Burmese King, Mindon Min (r. 1853-1878), sent his ambassador Ashin Nanmadaw Payawun Mingyi on an embassy of good will from his court at Amarapura to the Governor-General of India, Lord Dalhousie, in Calcutta. Sir Arthur Phayre, Commissioner of British Burma, accompanied the mission and acted as interpreter. \r\n\r\nThese three watercolours, which were presented to the Victoria and Albert Museum by the great niece of Sir Arthur Phayre, allow us to witness the pomp with which Burmese ministers travelled through the eyes of a Burmese court artist, who accompanied the mission.\r\n\r\nAt the third meeting in Calcutta, the ambassador is again shown with his entourage carrying his swords, gold umbrellas and receptacles of rank, but he is portrayed in a more relaxed mode, seated with Sir Arthur Phayre. His elaborate robes and headdress (see IS.179-1950 & IS. 181-1950) have been exchanged for items of dress that were worn by all classes of Burmese society--varying only in degree of costliness of fabric. A <i>pahsoe</i> (a type of sarong) of acheik luntaya silk worn with a simple white muslin <i>ein-gyi</i> (jacket) and <i>gaung-baung</i> (headcloth).","physicalDescription":"The Burmese envoy seated with Sir Arthur Phayre. The Burmese envoy's entourage (depicted in smaller scale indicating their lesser rank) is seated on the right holding his swords, gold umbrellas and receptacles of rank.\r\n\r\nThe Burmese envoy is portrayed in less formal attire in this painting - he retains his salwe (chain of honour) but his elaborate robe and hat have been replaced by a white muslin ein-gyi (jacket) and gaung-baung (turban).\r\n\r\nInscribed at the top in Burmese characters: Arrived in Calcutta on Tuesday 9th waxing moon of Nadaw 1216 [Burmese era]. Picture of his exalted Majesty Bawashin Mindayagyipaya's [King Mindon's] ambassador Ashin Manmadan Mipayakhaunggyi Payawan Mingyi and the administrators of Pegu Province Arata Bayawi Phwayya [ie Arthur Purves Phayre}1216 [Burmese era; ie 1854]  (Translation provided by U Tin Pe, Burmese Embassy)","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"paper","id":"AAT14109"},{"text":"opaque watercolour","id":"x35013"},{"text":"paint","id":"AAT15029"}],"techniques":[{"text":"painted","id":"AAT54216"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Painted in opaque watercolour on paper","categories":[{"text":"Indian Company Paintings","id":"THES49045"}],"styles":[{"text":"Konbaung Period","id":"x30379"},{"text":"Company","id":"AAT18959"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2006AF5044"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"009","id":"THES403829"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Painting","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Calcutta","id":"x32018"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca.1854","earliest":"1849-01-01","latest":"1858-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"20.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"24.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'Arrived in Calcutta on Tuesday 9th waxing moon of Nadaw 1216 [Burmese era].\r\nPictures of his exalted Majesty Bawashin Mindayagyipaya's ambassador Ashin Manmadan Mipayakhaunggyi Payawan Mingyi and the administators of Pegu Province Arata Bayawi Phwayya [i.e. Arthur Purves Phayre] 1216 [Burmese era; i.e. 1854].","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Inscribed at top in Burmese characters:"},{"content":"No I. These three curious sketches (numbered I, II, III) made by native artists, are mementos of the Mission sent by the Governor General of India to the Court of Ava in 1855. They were found amongst the papers of the late Sir Arthur Phayre K.C.B., G.C.S.I, and have been framed and preserved by his niece - Mrs A.M. Crawley-Boevey.\r\nA narrative of this Mission by Col. H. Yule was published in quarto in 1858. Major Phayre's connection with this Mission is fully described in Col. Yule's narrative, and his descendants possess several other interesting mementos of his mission on that occasion, amongst others a ring worn by the Govt of India to accompany the Mission.\r\nA.Crawley 22 June 1905.","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Inscribed on mount in English:"}],"objectHistory":"Given by Mrs Crawley-Boevey, widow of Arthur William Crawley-Boevey (1845-1913). His collection of Indian artefacts, of which 83 objects were donated to the Museum, was made while he was serving as Collector and Magistrate in the Bombay Civil Service in the District of Dharwar, in the former Bombay Presidency, 1891-92. Since Independence Dharwar has been known as Dharwad and is in the State of Karnataka.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Painting; Gouache on paper with gold high lights, the visit of the Burmese King Mindon's envoy to Calcutta in 1854, By an unknown artist but one who is believed to have been Burmese, Burma ca.1854","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Archer, Mildred. <u> Company Paintings Indian Paintings of the British period</u> \r\nVictoria and Albert Museum Indian Series London: Victoria and Albert Museum, Maplin Publishing, 1992 181, 182 p. ISBN 0944142303"}],"production":"Although the artist of these three paintings (see also Museum nos. IS.179-1950 and IS.181-1950) is unknown, Noel Singer in 2002 states that they are without doubt the work of a Burmese <font -i>panchee-daw</font> (court artist) who was probably taken on the mission to Calcutta in 1854. Mildred Archer in \"Company Paintings\" (see Ref. below) was also of the opinion that they were executed by a Burmese artist. \r\n\r\nPreviously considered illustrations recording Sir Arthur Phayre's mission to Mandalay in 1855. When Mildred Archer had the Burmese inscriptions above the paintings translated by U Tin Pe of the Burmese Embassy in London they were re-attributed to the earlier mission in December 1854 led by the Chief Queen's Ambassador Ashin Nanmadaw Payawun Mingyi from the Court of Mindon to Calcutta.","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"swords","id":"AAT37048"},{"text":"umbrellas","id":"AAT46227"},{"text":"pots","id":"AAT45697"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["IS.180-1950"],"accessionNumberNum":"180","accessionNumberPrefix":"IS","accessionYear":1950,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-05-08","recordCreationDate":"2003-09-05","availableToBook":true}}