Kalanga Embroidery — King’s General, Myanmar (c. 1850)

Kalanga Embroidery — King’s General, Myanmar (c. 1850)

This rare large-format textile is executed in the Kalanga technique, a highly decorative embroidery style introduced to Mandalay after the fall of Ayutthaya. Captured Siamese artisans brought new skills, including the use of imported British glass beads, which became integrated into Burmese court art. The motif depicts the King’s general, as seen in 19th-century illustrations, wearing ceremonial armor and holding a sword in readiness. Rich in symbolic detail, the work reflects both the grandeur of the Burmese court and the layered cultural influences that shaped it.

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