Posted on: 8 February 2012

Watercolour drawing of a standing Brahmin priest annotated in top right corner 'Copae Brahmin' The figure wears a pale blue scarf over a bare chest and a pink lunghi. He carries a conch in his right hand and has a shaved head plus knot of hair - 1857.

This album gives detailed visual depictions of a wide range of officials and their wives from the last Burmese court at Mandalay (1853-1885) together with their regalia of rank. The period covered encompasses the reigns of King Mindon Min (1852-1878) and Thibaw (1878-1885). Included are grades of court officials, army officers, princes, Brahmin priests and members of ethnic minorities. It is likely that the album was created on the orders of a European visitor using local court artists.

Source: V&A, London


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