Wood - Myanmar - 20th century

Title
Traditional Burmese Yoke Thé Marionette – Royal Prince / Mintha – Carved Wood – Myanmar – ca. 50 cm
Description
Impressive traditional Burmese string marionette (Yoke Thé), originating from Myanmar (formerly Burma), representing a richly dressed royal figure, most likely a Mintha (Prince).
The marionette measures approximately 50 cm in height and is a highly decorative example of the traditional Burmese puppet-theatre tradition.
The figure is constructed primarily from hand-carved and hand-painted wood and has an extensively articulated body. Particularly noteworthy are the finely constructed hands with individually articulated fingers, as well as the movable limbs and mechanically articulated mouth/jaw. Numerous original control strings are still attached, together with the wooden control mechanism.
The face is hand-painted in the characteristic theatrical style, with a pale complexion, strongly outlined eyes and eyebrows, red lips and traditional facial detailing. The figure wears an elaborate pointed royal headdress decorated with textile, sequins and ornamental elements.
The costume is especially impressive and consists of several layers of richly decorated fabric in golden-yellow, red and blue tones. It is embellished with extensive embroidery, metallic thread, coloured sequins and bead-like ornaments. The elaborate costume and crown are consistent with the representation of a high-ranking court or princely character in traditional Burmese puppetry.
Age / Attribution
The exact date of manufacture is unknown.
Based on its traditional construction, carving, articulated mechanism, costume and overall appearance, the piece appears to be an older 20th-century example, possibly earlier. Comparable Burmese Yoke Thé marionettes are known from the late 19th and first half of the 20th century.
No documentary provenance or maker's mark is available; therefore, the exact age and identification as a Mintha should be considered an attribution based on style and construction rather than a documented provenance.
Condition
The marionette is preserved in authentic unrestored vintage/antique condition with substantial signs of age and use.
There is visible wear and ageing throughout, including fading and discoloration of the textiles, fraying and losses to parts of the costume and decorative trim, missing or loose sequins/ornaments, and wear, scratches and small losses to the painted wooden surfaces.
The wooden hands, articulated fingers, feet, head and movable jaw show age-related wear. The opening visible at the back of the head is associated with the construction/mechanism of the puppet.
The numerous control strings are present but are tangled and have not been reorganised or restored. Due to the age and current condition of the strings, the marionette has not been tested for full theatrical functionality.
No restoration or repainting has been carried out by the current owner.
Please study all photographs carefully. They form an important and integral part of the description and show the condition, construction, articulated hands, movable mouth, costume, strings and age-related wear in detail.
Details
Object: Traditional string marionette / theatrical puppet
Tradition: Burmese Yoke Thé
Character: Royal figure, probably Mintha (Prince)
Origin: Myanmar (Burma)
Material: Carved and painted wood, textile, embroidery, thread, sequins and decorative beads
Height: Approx. 50 cm
Period: Probably 20th century, possibly earlier
Mechanism: Articulated limbs, fingers and movable mouth/jaw with multiple control strings
Condition: Used, unrestored, with considerable age-related wear
Functionality: Not fully tested
A characterful and highly decorative piece of traditional Southeast Asian puppetry, particularly interesting for collectors of Burmese folk art, Asian theatrical objects, ethnographic art and antique/vintage marionettes.
The marionette will be carefully packed for shipment, with particular attention to the fragile articulated elements, costume and strings.