A beautiful old red cinnabar lacquerware container from Bagan, Myanmar. It is in the shape of a custard apple (also known as a sugar apple or Annona squamosa) and is a charming example of molded lacquerware — the bumpy texture mimicking the fruit's natural surface is characteristic of the thayo technique. Lacquer is mixed with ash and clay and molded into the fruits unique texture. These fruit-form containers were popular decorative items, often used to store betel nut, jewelry, or as presentation pieces. It showed some signs of age when I bought it and is pretty much the same today.
20 years ago I found this in the 5 Sisters Shop in Bagan, at a time when the situation in Burma looked like it was improving. I have not been able to go back for many years.
Aproximately 7 x 7 inches and 7 3/4 diameter.
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