Three Superb Old Burmese Medicine Amulet Charms from Shan State Burma Myanmar Dating from the 19th Century

Three Superb Old Burmese Medicine Amulet Charms from Shan State Burma Myanmar Dating from the 19th Century

These beautiful old Medicinal Amulets are in the form of Nats Spirits and were used by animists and Buddhists alike.  Some of these spirits go back to ancient pre-Buddhist or Hindu times when animists were in balance with nature & and their ancestors. The Art of Myanmar refers to visual art created in Myanmar (Burma). Ancient Burmese art was influenced by India and China, and was often religious, ranging from Hindu sculptures in the Thaton Kingdom to Theravada Buddhist images in the Sri Ksetra Kingdom. The Bagan period saw significant developments in many art forms from wall paintings and sculptures to stucco and wood carving.

A Saya is the title of a traditional healer. The Saya used these amulets which sometimes had small chambers containing botanicals used in healing rituals.  Illness both physical & mental as well as bad luck & misfortune were attributed to the action’s demons, ghosts’ witches, or sorcerers of the lower path, the practitioners of black magic where action must be taken to thwart their schemes.

There were many types of Nats figures used in traditional healing, here you see three different Nat forms all from carved wood and with fine old patina from long handling & use (left to right) a guardian holding a staff (middle) Nat Wearing a feline mask holding a sword) a Nat riding an elephant with a written scroll tucked between the elephant’s legs.

These Burmese medical amulets are rare, I bought these three Amulet Figures over 20 years ago, I sometimes saw fine old examples in Thailand but they were not for sale as they are still highly valued by people.

See more fine antique Burmese & Buddhist Art here on my website https://www.oceanicartsaustralia.com/asian-art/buddhist-art/

Provenance: Old Collection Thailand & The Todd Barlin Collection of Asian & Oceanic Tribal Art  

Literature: Burmese Medicine Figures Tribal Art Mag Autumn 2018 by Marc Petit

See my new EXHIBITIONS GALLERY  showing the Museums and Art Galleries Exhibitions that I provided artworks for over the past 40 years. There is the link to the article about my artworks published in the prestigious Louvre Magazine in 1996

I have artwork for Museums and art Galleries but also for collectors at every stage of their collecting. I want to encourage people to explore the fine art of New Guinea & West Papua and the Pacific Islands and to be able to see and touch the artworks in a relaxed and friendly manner in my Sydney Gallery. I  invite you to visit my gallery and see the artworks in person and also look at my website www.oceanicartsaustralia.com where there are many Galleries & Sub Galleries to explore.

My Gallery of nearly 40 years is the last physical gallery in Sydney that specializes in New Guinea and Oceanic Art.  Sydney is very close to New Guinea & the Pacific Islands where all of these amazing artworks came from, Australia’s closest neighbors.

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