2 Wooden Statues: Burma

Elegant pair of painted wooden sculptures representing a spirit and a dancer. Burma (Union of Myanmar), 18th and/or early 19th century.
- The "masculine" sculpture can be related to the human representation of a spirit called nats* in Burma. The nats are revered human-like spirits who have protected homes and villages since very ancient times. The statue is in painted wood, enhanced with notes of gilding.
- The dancer sculpture can be identified as a nat kadaw (or nat-gadaw*: mistresses or mediums of the nats) dancer who dances to appease and embody nat spirits (spirits) during trances. The statue is in painted wood, enhanced with notes of gilding. The headdress, the ears and the sleeves are in mosaic of polychrome glass and mirrors (restorations but with remains of old mosaics). The sculptures are presented on a contemporary wooden base. Good condition with traces of wear and losses (clothing, hands, feet…: see photos).
Nats statue dimensions: 114 x 26 x 26 cm.
Nat Kadaw statue dimensions: 115 x 26 x 26 cm.

*Source Wikipedia.