Burma
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Glasgow Museums has a collection of 583 objects associated with Burma, which date from 1870 to 1999. This collection contains religious figures, wooden and ivory carvings, costume and textiles, games, models, musical instruments, weapons and tools. It also contains amulets, jewellery, books, manuscripts and writing equipment, lacquer, bronze and silverware, and photographs, furniture, containers and coins. There are a number of items associated with the fall of Mandalay to the British in 1885. The collection holds good examples of 19th century tribal dress from the Karen, Shan and Kachin peoples, and an excellent collection of late 20th century woven textiles. The collection boasts rare objects, including two 7th to 9th century votive plaques from Pagan, and a bed of gilded teakwood with glasswork acquired from the Royal Palace at Mandalay and attributed to King Thibaw Min, the last crowned monarch of Burma. There is also a fur-lined coat of navy silk with gold buttons, which was presented by the king to George Swann, Manager of the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company, in 1879. Burma, officially known as the Union of Myanmar, is the largest country of South East Asia. Until 1948 it was part of the British Empire. Glasgow had strong connections with Burma from pre-colonial times, through P Henderson and Company's riverboat buisiness the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company.
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