18th c. Burmese Buddhist Manuscript Chest

Furniture

-

Hammond Castle Museum

Name/Title

18th c. Burmese Buddhist Manuscript Chest

Entry/Object ID

HM-1

Tags

Beauport

Description

Buddhist manuscript case/chest from Myanmar (Burma), colored glass, stone and enameled pieces inlaid on mirror in intricate design involving birds at the border, warriors and flowers near the center, spear-like trim at top. Possibly brought by the Moors to Spain but oriental origin. "Acquired by Henry Davis Sleeper (1878-1934) about 1907 and installed in 1908 in Beauport’s Medieval Hall (present-day China Trade Room). Described variously as “fashioned not long after the Conquest,” and a “Spanish Jewel cabinet that goes back to the 15th century. It is a heavy piece of furniture, set with hundreds of varied-colored stones and pieces of glass.... another Spanish inheritance.” Photographed in situ in Beauport in December 1909 and again by Thomas Marr in 1910. Sold or gifted to JHH Jr in Summer of 1922 when HDS dismantled the Medieval Hall and installed in the Bungalow in the Great Hall gallery. Referenced residing in the Bungalow in October 1922. Citations: “Unique Gloucester House,” New York Sun, 21 November 1909: 35; “ ‘The Most Attractive Small House in New England’ on Gloucester Rocks,” Boston Herald Magazine, 26 December 1909: 25; Thomas Marr Photograph, Beauport Medieval Hall (Negative No. 17019), Historic New England; Bungalow Point Radio Photo Album, 1923-1929, Hammond Papers, HCM; and “Wealth of Antiques and Unique Features Abound in John Hays Hammond, Jr’s ‘House Built Around An Organ’,” North Shore Breeze, Vol. 22, No. 42 (20 October 1922): 3-4. [2025 P Hayden]" (Previously mis-identified as a gift from sister Natalie)

Collection

Furniture

Acquisition

Accession

1

Made/Created

Date made

1700 - 1799

Notes

Date: ca. 18th c.

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Chest

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Storage & Display Furniture

Nomenclature Class

Furniture

Nomenclature Category

Category 02: Furnishings

Search Terms

chest, Buddhist, Burma, Myanmar

General Notes

Note Type

HM1 Burmese Buddhist Chest - Old Label

Note Type

CCTS005 HM1 Burmese Buddhist Manuscript Chest

Note Type

1977 Hammond Castle Souvenir Guidebk by N R Kline, J J Bolten (19)

Note Type

1966 Corinne Witham Guidebook (14)

Note Type

2016-04-01 Pettibone & Easton - Castle Guide, draft 3 p(24)

Note Type

2006-02-03 artifact list w 1983 values, copy (1)

Note Type

1970ca Handwritten Inventory p(21) - Side Chapel-Sunroom & Great Hall

Note Type

1951 Tour Manual 008

Note Type

2025 P Hayden HCM-Sleeper Objects List