Huntsville gazette., 1886-11-13
THEBAW'S REGALiA.
Exhibition OF the Plunder Secured by the
/ British SoldierY In Burmah.

Exhibition OF the Plumber Secured by the
British Soldiery in Burmah.
A large quantity of gold and other
articles brought from the palace at
Mandalay are now being exhibited in
the Indian and Colonial Exhibition,
where they form very interesting dis
play. At the present time there is no
list nor any kind of description of the
separate pieces, which appear to be OF
very different dates of production.
There are typical features more or less
evident in the style Of art and in the
workmanship. The articles are mostly
formed of two thin plates Of pure gold
soldered apart by side pieces, the in
terror space being filled with lac. In
this way the gold is small in quantity,
instead of being really thick and solid
as it appears TO be; and the articles
when handled feel very light. The
gold objects are set with numerous ru-
bies in rows, and otherwise ornament
ed with precious stones either in their
natural form or but very inditlerently
cut. There are many rings and brooches,
one of the latter containing an immense
emerald cut square. Some of the gold
articles are of very large size, and there
are others formed into the shape Of
birds and crawtis!. There are goblets
and conical food covers, all worked in
the same way out of sheet gold, and
highly ornamented by chased work.
Jade armlets and cups are also 70 be
seen.
The royal dress is the most interest
ing as we'll as the most extraordinary
portion of the collection. The robe OF
state is composed of elaborate spangle
work. sewn with great neatness and
considerable skill of Ornamentation
upon some very stout basis. such as
leather or cardboard. 1t is embroid-
cred also with figurings Of metal
and silk thread lis weight is very
great. probably not less than sixty
or seventy pounds. The hat. which
weighs two or three pounds. is conical
with high peak and broad brim, and i
also covered by spangle work. The
shoes, turned up ,tt the points. are OF
hollow gold and highly olnamented
with metal threadwork; the clogs are
palmer and very heavy. The full
dress, indeed, seems to be as much as
a man could we'll stand under.
and locomotion must have been very
difficult to the Eastern mon trch. The
belt is of gold thread work, set Will
fgurings in pearl. 1t is very we'll
executed and handsome article. In
one of the cases containing the dress
=, IL l,,,1 L.
not the umbrella of state This was in
the capture broken up. and of it there
now are parts only. and a great guam
tity OF ornaments which have been re-
ceiyed in these eases. but these are not
shown to the public. The umbrella it
self is about thirty feet III diameter
and was carried by shaft six inches
thick and about twenty feet long, the
final On the top OF the umbrella being.
when complete, some nine feet in
height The shaft was surrounded by
rings OF gold, studded with rows OF
rubies. and ornamen.ed by alterna-
tons Of inverted V-shapea pendants.
The gold articles and regalia above no
ticed are placed in the Indian section
near the Cevlon court But there are
two pagodas or shrines forming part
Of this collection which have been
placed in the gardens near the foun-
tains, and which are by no means the
least interesting objects. although they
are formed of mere gilded lattice work
bedccked with bits Of silyered glass
and other tawdry. The roof upon
roof with which they are covered in,
and the tiame-like representation in
the ornaments, out Of which tall slight
pointed finals rise. are highly charac-
teristic Of the crude Burmese style 81
alt.-L01sdots Standard.