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Large 19th C. Burmese Painted Wood Theater Puppet Head
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Description
Southeast Asia, Burma (modern day Myanmar), ca. 19th century CE. A hand-carved and hand-painted traditional Burmese theater puppet head, probably carved from Gmelina arborea (yamanay) wood, with an articulated mouth, an elaborate seven-tiered headdress with a flame finial and ear ornaments, and an elegant face, its eyes inlaid with black and white glass. According to Dr. Tin Maung Kyi, a medical doctor as well as an expert on Burmese puppetry, each puppet is typically comprised of seventeen to nineteen pieces that are string operated; the head and neck piece, the body in two pieces, a pair of arms in six pieces and a pair of legs in eight pieces. Burmese marionettes are incredibly intricate and dexterous as they require eighteen (for male characters) or nineteen (for female) wires, and even more amazingly, all of these wires are controlled only by one puppeteer. The size of the head determines the height of the puppet, and the hand-span (distance between the thumb and tip of middle finger) determines the circumference of the head. Clearly, this head belonged to a rather large puppet. The tradition of Burmese puppet theater (yoke thay) originated in the 15th century CE and saw its peak in popularity in the 19th century. The performances would last all night and shows called upon the talents of puppeteers, singers, and musicians. A Burmese marionette troupe involves twenty-seven characters, including a king, animals such as horse, elephant, tiger, monkey and parrot, ministers, a prince and princess, buffoons, and various mythical characters. Each puppet is danced in its own particular manner. This puppet represents a mythical being, probably Thagyar Min, the King of the Celestial Beings, who wears a seven-tiered headdress and an opulent costume resembling ceremonial dress worn by Burmese kings on stately occasions that is comprised of a gold-hued robe embellished with sequins and beads. He also carries a double-edged sword in his right hand. According to Dr. Kyi, this puppet must always descend upon the stage from above the handrail, signifying his elevated abode and by extension, his high status. What's more, his feet are never to touch the floor. Custom wood stand. A fabulous example from this cherished Burmese tradition. Size: head measures 9.5" L x 8" W x 22.25" H (24.1 cm x 20.3 cm x 56.5 cm); 26.625" H (67.6 cm) on standFor additional information about Burmese puppetry see the following sources: Bruns, A.: Burmesische Marionettenkunst 2000, Bangkok (Ph.D.Thesis); Cowell, E.B.: The Jataka or Stories of the Buddha's former births 1969, London: Luzac & Co; Ma Thanegi: The illusion of life. Burmese marionnettes 1994, Bangkok: White Orchid Press; and Singer, N.F.: Burmese Puppets, 1992, Singapore, Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press. Provenance: Ex-Private Boulder, CO collection acquired at Indochine Gallery Condition: Losses to area where nails inserted to attach articulated mouth, but articulated mouth still moves. Losses to eye inlays as shown. Flame ornaments reattached to both ears. Stabilized crack running from lowest tier of of headdress to eyelid with overpainting. Loss to back of headdress. Stable age cracks to neck and face. General surface wear and pigment loss as shown. All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience. #117806
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Southeast Asia, Burma (modern day Myanmar), ca. 19th century CE. A hand-carved and hand-painted traditional Burmese theater puppet head, probably carved from Gmelina arborea (yamanay) wood, with an articulated mouth, an elaborate seven-tiered headdress with a flame finial and ear ornaments, and an elegant face, its eyes inlaid with black and white glass. According to Dr. Tin Maung Kyi, a medical doctor as well as an expert on Burmese puppetry, each puppet is typically comprised of seventeen to nineteen pieces that are string operated; the head and neck piece, the body in two pieces, a pair of arms in six pieces and a pair of legs in eight pieces. Burmese marionettes are incredibly intricate and dexterous as they require eighteen (for male characters) or nineteen (for female) wires, and even more amazingly, all of these wires are controlled only by one puppeteer. The size of the head determines the height of the puppet, and the hand-span (distance between the thumb and tip of middle finger) determines the circumference of the head. Clearly, this head belonged to a rather large puppet. The tradition of Burmese puppet theater (yoke thay) originated in the 15th century CE and saw its peak in popularity in the 19th century. The performances would last all night and shows called upon the talents of puppeteers, singers, and musicians. A Burmese marionette troupe involves twenty-seven characters, including a king, animals such as horse, elephant, tiger, monkey and parrot, ministers, a prince and princess, buffoons, and various mythical characters. Each puppet is danced in its own particular manner. This puppet represents a mythical being, probably Thagyar Min, the King of the Celestial Beings, who wears a seven-tiered headdress and an opulent costume resembling ceremonial dress worn by Burmese kings on stately occasions that is comprised of a gold-hued robe embellished with sequins and beads. He also carries a double-edged sword in his right hand. According to Dr. Kyi, this puppet must always descend upon the stage from above the handrail, signifying his elevated abode and by extension, his high status. What's more, his feet are never to touch the floor. Custom wood stand. A fabulous example from this cherished Burmese tradition. Size: head measures 9.5" L x 8" W x 22.25" H (24.1 cm x 20.3 cm x 56.5 cm); 26.625" H (67.6 cm) on standFor additional information about Burmese puppetry see the following sources: Bruns, A.: Burmesische Marionettenkunst 2000, Bangkok (Ph.D.Thesis); Cowell, E.B.: The Jataka or Stories of the Buddha's former births 1969, London: Luzac & Co; Ma Thanegi: The illusion of life. Burmese marionnettes 1994, Bangkok: White Orchid Press; and Singer, N.F.: Burmese Puppets, 1992, Singapore, Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press. Provenance: Ex-Private Boulder, CO collection acquired at Indochine Gallery Condition: Losses to area where nails inserted to attach articulated mouth, but articulated mouth still moves. Losses to eye inlays as shown. Flame ornaments reattached to both ears. Stabilized crack running from lowest tier of of headdress to eyelid with overpainting. Loss to back of headdress. Stable age cracks to neck and face. General surface wear and pigment loss as shown. All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience. #117806
Variety Sale - Ancient | Asian | Ethnographic
Sale Date(s)
Venue Address
P.O. BOX 714
Erie
Colorado
80516
United States
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Important Information
You'll find plenty of options in our Feb. 9 auction that will cater to all tastes and budgets. Classical antiquities from Egypt, Greece, Italy, the Near East. Asian art from China, Japan, Thailand, more! Pre-Columbian. Native American. African / Tribal / Oceanic. Spanish Colonial. Fossils. Jewelry. So much more!
Terms & Conditions
The following are the TERMS OF SALE for bidding in Live Auction, Thursday, February 9, 2017. AUCTION will start at 8 a.m. MT, 10 p.m. EST, 7 a.m. PST - Live Online / Absentee Bidding only. Please read the following "Terms of Sale" carefully. These terms are applicable to all bidders in this auction, collectors and dealers alike. Please do not bid in this auction if you do not agree to all of the terms listed below. Your submission of bids in this auction constitutes your acceptance of these "Terms of Sale." 1. All items in this auction have been legally acquired, are legal to sell, and guaranteed to be as described or your money back. 2. This is an auction sale, not an approval sale. By bidding in this auction, the bidder personally guarantees payment. The auctioneer has final discretion in all matters. In case of dispute, the lot(s) in question may be resold. Lots will be sold in their numerical sequence unless the auctioneer directs otherwise. 3. HIGH and LOW ESTIMATES are provided for each lot for reference only. 4. No lots will be released / shipped until payment has been made in full. Payment(in U.S. funds) may be made via personal check or money order, via credit card (MasterCard, Visa or Discover), PayPal or Bank Wire Transfer. For PayPal payments please use "artemisgallery@gmail.com" email address for processing payments. 5. BUYER'S PREMIUM: A 24.5% Buyer's Premium will be added to the final price of each lot purchased through Artemis Gallery and will be paid by all bidders without exception. 6. CO SALES TAX: Appropriate Colorado Sales Tax will be added to all invoices, unless a valid CO seller's permit is on file with Artemis Gallery/Artemis Gallery Live prior to any bidding in the auction. Items shipped outside of CO (United States or international) are also sales tax exempt. 7. RETURN POLICY: If our description of the item is not as described, we will accept return of the item; however, WE MUST HAVE WRITTEN NOTIFICATION OF RETURN WITHIN TWO BUSINESS DAYS FROM RECEIPT OF ITEM BY BIDDER, as shown by FedEx, UPS or USPS tracking data, and the item must be received by us within ten days in the condition received. A written letter from a recognized expert in the field pertaining to the item in dispute must be presented for refund. No lots may be returned without prior written consent. Late remittance constitutes just cause for revocation of all return privileges. Return shipping is at the bidder's expense. In no event may any lot(s) be returned after fifteen (15) days from the date of the auction. As of February 24, 2017 ALL SALES ARE FINAL. 8. BIDDING will be conducted ONLINE / LIVE as the auction progresses. Bidders may place their bids LIVE, via PHONE or by leaving ABSENTEE BIDS via the Live Auctioneers auction catalog. Please keep in mind that Phone Bids will be accepted on a limited basis and must be arranged in advance. 9. SHIPPING: As a convenience to our buyers, shipping is handled in-house. All buyers will receive an invoice detailing their purchases, sales tax (if applicable), buyer's premium, and shipping/insurance charges. Items will be shipped only upon receipt of payment in full and will be insured for their full value. **For shipments outside of the USA, customs and duties may apply upon entry into said country; this fee, if any, is the buyer's responsibility. Also, please be aware that Artemis Gallery will NOT falsify customs value on any international shipments - what you pay is what we declare, no exceptions. There are a small number of international countries we cannot ship to. If you have questions about this, please inquire BEFORE bidding** 9a. REQUEST TO DELAY SHIPPING FOR LOTS WON: We are happy to delay shipping on all paid lots for up to 30 days with no storage fees. After 30 days, storage fees will accrue based on a 2% of invoice total. 10. ESTIMATES for each lot are given only as a guide to help gauge bidding. Lots may sell for a price greater than or less than these estimates. 11. STARTING PRICES may or may not be the actual price at which any item will sell. At the discretion of the auctioneer, starting prices may be lowered to encourage bidding, but this is up to the auctioneer. 12. The auctioneer may open the bidding on any lot by placing a bid on behalf of the seller. The auctioneer may accept or decline any bid, or challenge to any bid, as he in his sole discretion shall determine. 13. ALL BIDDERS must register in order to bid. 14. In the event a successful bidder fails to make payment when due, Artemis Gallery reserves the right to re-sell the merchandise and bidder agrees to pay for the reasonable cost of such a sale and also to pay any difference between the resale price and the previously successful bid, together with any incidental costs of sale and disbursements. 15. If the auction invoice is not paid for in full when due per invoice terms, including any applicable credit card processing fees, the unpaid balance will bear interest at the highest rate permitted by law until paid in full. If the matter is referred to an attorney for collection, bidder agrees to pay all reasonable attorney fees, court costs and other collection cost incurred by Artemis Gallery to collect past due invoices and that the services of process by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, shall be sufficient to confer "in personam" jurisdiction over bidder. 16. Buyer agrees that any claim of controversy arising out of, or relating to the formation, interpretation of performance of these terms and underlying transactions or the breach thereof, is subject to arbitration or judicial proceedings and shall take place within the County of Boulder, CO subject to the laws of the State of Colorado. 17. QUESTIONS? Feel free to email us at info@artemisgallery.com with questions prior to bidding or feel free to call us at 720-890-7700. Please be sure to ask all questions at least 30 minutes prior to auction start time, as we will not be able to take calls or answer emails sent to us during the auction. Good luck!
