79202 Antique Embroidered Burmese Kalaga Tapestry, 03'07 x 05'02.
This antique Burmese Kalaga tapestry from Myanmar unfurls like a sacred scroll woven with myth and memory, its surface a sumptuous theater of silk, metallic threads, and velvet shadows. At its heart, three grand medallions enclose regal figures — divine beings or noble warriors — astride their majestic mounts: the mighty elephant, the celestial lion, and the powerful steed. Their gestures are poised, their garments alive with gold and silver embroidery, embodying the grandeur of classical Burmese courtly drama. The swirling background, embroidered in hypnotic, flame-like spirals, evokes a dreamscape where the earthly and the celestial coalesce in a timeless dance.
Surrounding these central deities are guardians and celestial beings rendered in concentric patterns, their presence both protective and ornamental. Above, a frieze of chinthe — the mythical lion-dragon guardians of Burmese temples — prowl with muscular grace, their golden forms embodying strength, vigilance, and sacred authority. Below, seated figures in lotus pose, possibly devas or apsaras, raise their hands in gestures of blessing and benediction, echoing the rhythm of a world harmonized by divine will. Each figure is edged with couched metallic threads and sequins, lending a luminous quality to their divine roles.
Historically, Kalaga tapestries like this one were created during the Konbaung Dynasty (1752–1885) and onward, often for ceremonial use or royal patronage. They adorned palaces, monasteries, and homes during grand festivals, depicting scenes from the Ramayana (Yama Zatdaw in Burmese), the Jataka tales, or local legends. These dramatic textile panels functioned as both visual storytelling devices and sacred offerings. Their labor-intensive technique, called shwe gyi do, involved hand-appliqueing and embroidering intricate relief scenes onto heavy cotton or velvet, embellished with glass beads, sequins, and gold- or silver-wrapped threads.
This particular tapestry is a masterwork of that tradition, offering not merely a decorative object but a portal into the richly symbolic world of Burmese spirituality and artistry. It is a tactile mythos — every stitch a whisper of a monk’s chant, every bead a glint from a forgotten procession. Through its regal composition and sacred iconography, this Kalaga tapestry weaves together history, devotion, and the splendor of a bygone Burmese era, eternally suspended in thread and time.
- Abrash.
- Embroidered. Cotton, Velvet, Metallic Threads, Sequins, and Beads.
- Made in Burma (Myanmar).
- Measures: 03'07 x 05'02.
- Pile Height: 0.15 of an inch.
- Date: 1930's. Early 20th Century.
