Burmese Silver Box by Maung Yin Maung

This small, elongated octagonal box with a domed, hinged cover, all in high-grade silver, is by the Rangoon-based master silversmith Maung Yin Maung, one of colonial Burma’s greatest silversmiths. Maung Yin Maung was a gold medallist at the 1903 Delhi Exhibition, and indeed received the only gold medal for silverwork for the whole of India (at the time, Burma was administered by the British as part of India), plus was the winner of many other places and medals and similar exhibitions. The Victoria and Albert Museum’s most spectacular example of colonial Burmese silver – a large centrepiece – is attributed to Maung Yin Maung.

All sides and the cover are repoussed in high relief with traditional Burmese scenes, including what is likely to be a courtly scene.

The base is stamped with the words: ‘Maung Yin Maung – Silversmith – EstD 98 – 29 Godwin Road – Rangoon.’

An almost identical box by Maung Yin Maung is illustrated in plate 2 in Tilly (1904). That box was exhibited at the Provincial Competition in Rangoon in 1902.

Tilly (1904) illustrates a piece by Maung Yin Maung as the number 1 plate, as well as others that comprise plates 2, 3, 6 and 12.

There is some polishing wear to the high relief, due to time and the purity (and thus relative softness) of the silver. But otherwise, it is in fine condition. It is noticeably heavy-in-the-hand, again because of the purity of the silver (silver that is less pure tends to weigh less.)

Above: A similar box by Maung Yin Maung, on the left, published in Tilly (1904).

Above: Maung Yin Maung, is shown seated on the far left, in the group photograph of Burmese master silversmiths, taken in 1903. Published in Tilly (1904).