A Fine and Massive Vintage Burmese Kalaga, Framed

Burmese kalagas are often misidentified as being Thai in origin since they are routinely acquired across the border in Thailand where tourist travel is far more common than in Burma itself, but they are in fact Burmese. That said, much of what is available nowadays are the smaller, shoddily constructed pieces sold as tourist souvenirs which frankly, to our taste, are more kitsch than fine art. But these older, massive, elaborate constructions are indeed amazing works of art. Pieces of this size and intricacy would have taken many weeks to complete. To best appreciate the effort involved in creating something of this scale and detail, look at the closeups: Every single colored thread, every single metallic disk, every single bead, has to have its application mapped out in advance and be applied individually one by one. It’s an extraordinary and almost mind-boggling endeavor of devotion and meticulousness fast on its way to becoming a lost art.

Size and Condition: 110 inches wide (slightly over 9 feet), 60 inches high (5 feet). Some thread pulls, random bead and disk loss here and there, but overall excellent condition. Some nicks to the frame from handling, but all very minor.