Antique Burmese Silver Goblets with Figurine Supports

A rare pair of antique Burmese silver goblets supported by solid cast male and female figurines dressed in elegant costumes of the Konbaung court (1752-1885), Rangoon, Burma, 1880-1890, male 18.8 cm, 594 grams. Female 23.4 cm, 674 grams. The slender female figure wears a stylish dress consisting of three typical main elements: a hta-mein (the lower wrap around garment), a floral checkered yinzi (the breast cloth) and a tightly checked ein-gyi (jacket) with flaring khar-taung (waist-wings) and kalama-no (lappets). She also wears abundant jewellery including a necklace and two waist belts. The male figure wears a tight, long-sleeved and flared jacket over long pants, his hair piled into a handsome topknot. Both figures stand on a base of intricate floral scrolls interspersed with animal images. The design and workmanship of these eye-catching and alluring goblets is representative of Burmese silver work at its best. Provenance: an old Melbourne collection. Bibliography, . Owens, David C. Burmese silver Art, Singapore, 2020, . Dehejia, Vidya, Delight in design: Indian silver for the Raj, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, 2008, p.209, item 104.