Burma, Large Arakan lacquer box, 19th century

This Burmese lacquer box embodies the refined and sophisticated art characteristic of the ancient kingdom of Arakan (present-day Rakhine State, in western Burma). Made in the early 19th century, it is distinguished by its bright red background, obtained using cinnabar, a precious pigment historically imported from China.

The process of making these lacquer pieces is complex and meticulous. It begins with the creation of a finely woven bamboo structure, sometimes reinforced with fabrics or lightweight wood. This base is then covered with numerous layers of vegetable lacquer (thit-si), derived from the sap of the Melanorrhoea usitata tree, which gives the object strength and durability.
The technical peculiarity of Arakan lacquerware lies in the thayo technique, which consists of creating a relief decoration using a paste composed of lacquer mixed with very fine ash. The patterns thus formed have a pronounced, very distinctive relief, then covered by several layers of pigmented lacquer. This complex process requires exceptional know-how and extensive experience, with each step requiring significant drying time.
The decoration of this box is typical of Arakan productions. It reveals lush and delicate plant motifs, elegant arabesques, and figurative scenes illustrating mythological tales or episodes from local folklore. The finely carved relief figures demonstrate great artistic mastery.

Historically, Arakan lacquerware reached its peak in the 15th century, benefiting from cultural exchanges with neighboring regions such as Bengal and China. The conquest of Arakan by the Burmese Konbaung dynasty in 1784, followed by British colonization in the 19th century, gradually led to the decline of this craft tradition. Today, Arakan lacquerware objects are rare, highly sought after by collectors and museums due to their beauty, rarity, and historical richness.

This box is thus not only an exceptional piece in terms of its size, rarity and aesthetics, but also a precious testimony to an almost disappeared artistic tradition, bearing the entire complex and fascinating history of the ancient kingdom of Arakan.
33 cm diameter, 24 cm height