Manuscript record of Paku Karen textile patterns

[Burma: ca 1860s?]. One-page manuscript, 17.5" x 11" with six horizontal textile patterns divided by 5 narrower patterns, completed in pencil with accompanying ink annotations; old folds, neat repairs to one tear and another shallow closed tear along a fold touching some of the pattern, very good. Each pattern is annotated in pen with what appears to be comments on interpretation. For example, "Ahrayas + en or + au truth Etrusian." "H March alphabet" etc. The manuscript header reads "Nau Pwaku's turban - Paku Karen," followed by two notes: "East end or foot of the tree" and "Daylight or morning of the Word." Three patterns are numbered, with a header note listing these as "(1) IO, or yo, or ya. (2) V^ nei which is Joshua or Jesus. (3) Po sou or ox - Saviour." The patterns themselves are likely for the embroidered ends of Karen turbans, examples of which we found displaying similar thick bands of pattern interspersed with thinner ones. The annotations are largely incoherent to us, and since what does make sense seems to make direct reference to western culture or Christianity, we can't say what relation they might have to the patterns, or what relation the creator of this manuscript might have had with Nau Pwaku, ostensibly the owner of the turban from which this pattern was taken. The pen annotations suggest a mid 19th century date, perhaps slightly later, and an old pencil note reads: "est. 1856" Item #59138

Price: $400.00