Burmese Minister & Wife in Ceremonial Dress – Antique Costume Print, c.1800
€ 340
Original antique · The actual sheet photographed · Certificate of authenticity on request · Sold unframed · Worldwide shipping from € 15 (rates)
Date
1800
Mapmaker / artist
Anonymous Dutch engraver, after a contemporary source, Netherlands, circa 1800
Technique
Copper engraving
Sheet size
20.9 × 24.7 cm (8.2 × 9.7 in)
Reference
BG-11645-1-4
What the condition grades mean
Excellent
Bright and clean, with no faults worth mentioning.
Very good
Only light signs of age, such as faint toning.
Good
Normal signs of age for a sheet of this period: toning, some foxing, small marks or neat old repairs.
Fair
Clear faults such as staining, tears or repairs, priced to match.
Every fault we see is written in the condition note, and the whole sheet is shown uncropped in the photos.
Condition
Strong impression with full margins and visible plate marks. Original vertical and horizontal folds from binding. Minor toning and a few edge creases but no tears or stains. Paper remains firm and clean.
About this sheet
Second Minister of State and His Wife in Ceremonial Dress – Antique Burmese Costume Print, circa 1800
This elegant antique Dutch engraving titled “De Tweede Staatsraad en Zijne Vrouw, in hun Plechtgewaad” (“The Second Minister of State and His Wife, in their Ceremonial Dress”) presents a high-ranking Burmese court official and his wife, richly attired in formal garments, as observed and interpreted by European artists around 1800. The print likely stems from a Dutch edition of a travel narrative such as Michael Symes’ influential account of his 1795 diplomatic mission to the Burmese Empire.
The male figure, the Second Minister of State, wears a full-length robe with layered drapery and embroidered hems. His attire features ornate sleeves, sashes, and a tall ceremonial headdress with a curved peak. He holds an emblematic staff or baton and a circular fan—symbols of high rank and authority at the royal court.
Standing to his right is his wife, dressed in an elaborate long skirt with intricate floral or wave-like patterns, and a draped sash across her torso. Her top is elegantly tailored, and she holds a folded fan with an upright posture that conveys dignity and refinement. Her hairstyle includes a high bun or ornamented pin, consistent with elite Burmese women's fashion of the period.
This print is part of a series produced to inform European audiences about the courtly customs, dress, and social hierarchy of the Burmese monarchy. It offers insight into Burmese court ceremonial life during the Konbaung dynasty and reflects the European fascination with the grandeur and pageantry of Asian royal courts.
Framing tips: A dark wooden frame—such as rosewood or black lacquer—paired with a soft ivory or light tan mat will enhance the refined aesthetic and courtly theme of the print.
