Ground Plan of Shwemawdaw Pagoda – Great Temple at Pegu, circa 1800
€ 280
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Date
1800
Sheet size
30.8 × 24 cm (12.1 × 9.4 in)
Condition
Good
Reference
BG-11645-1-11
Condition
condition with a strong plate impression. Original folds as issued. Slight toning along folds and edges, minor creasing, and one small paper edge loss at lower left (not affecting the image or text). Full margins preserved.
About this sheet
Architectural Plan of the Shwemawdaw Pagoda – Ground Plan of the Great Temple at Pegu, circa 1800
This rare and finely executed Dutch engraving titled “Grondteekening van den Sjoemadoe Praw” (“Ground Plan of the Shwemawdaw Pagoda”) offers a precise architectural layout of one of Burma’s most important religious monuments. Created circa 1800, this plan accompanied a series of prints based on European travel accounts such as that of Michael Symes, the British envoy to the Burmese court in 1795.
The map presents a detailed bird’s-eye view of the sacred complex at Pegu (modern-day Bago), with the central stupa of the Shwemawdaw dominating the circular enclosure. The pagoda is surrounded by meticulously rendered features: entrance gates, stairways, shrines, walls, guardian figures, and other monastic structures. The four cardinal directions are marked, and the layout is carefully labeled with alphabetical references.
At the bottom of the sheet, a comprehensive **“Uitlegging”** (Explanation) provides a key to 18 architectural and ritual features, including:
* A: The central pagoda with its massive bell-shaped form * B–C: Altar stairs and inner enclosures * F–H: Shrines, altars, and the statues of gods * L: Lion-shaped guardians at the base * N: Small golden shrines placed around the terrace * QQ: Open shrines accessible to pilgrims
The plan not only reveals the structure’s grandeur and organization but also demonstrates the European fascination with documenting and rationalizing foreign religious architecture using Enlightenment methods of geometry and surveying. Such a detailed drawing would have greatly appealed to European readers and collectors interested in Eastern architecture, religion, and imperial geography.
Condition: Good condition with a strong plate impression. Original folds as issued. Slight toning along folds and edges, minor creasing, and one small paper edge loss at lower left (not affecting the image or text). Full margins preserved.
Framing tips: Ideal for float-mounting in a large frame to showcase the full sheet and explanatory legend. Use a neutral-toned mat and dark wood or black frame to enhance the clarity and technical precision of the drawing.
Technique: Copper engraving Maker: Anonymous Dutch engraver, after British sources (possibly Symes or Dalrymple), circa 1800
