All Artifacts
The items listed on this website are collection of artwork and artifacts from Myanmar (formerly known as Burma). The items are from the estates of Neil Sowards (President of Friends of Burma) and sister. His parents, Erville and Genevieve Sowards, were missionaries to Burma from 1921 to 1966 (with breaks). His sister, Genevieve Myrtle Sowards Gillen, was born in Burma and visited a number of times. His parents’ items were collected from 1921 to 1966. Genevieve’s collection began in 1990 and ended in 2010.
If you’re interested in an item, please email president@friendsofburma.org and include the item number, description, or link. Please note that shipping and handling costs are not included in the listed price.
4 1/4 inches diameter, 2 3/4 inches tall. Traditional lacquerware finish with three colors. Very thin and flexible. I was told the base is woven horse hair. Very good detail. Burmese zodiac
9 inch diameter. (227 mm) Burmese Chinthe. The Chinthe is a mythological beast, a sort of lion-dragon and found at the entrances of temples. It is also found on modern Burmese coins. The gold is real gold. The Burmese are able to beat gold into very thin sheets—the thinnest in the world! And that gold is what is on this plaque. Some repair on edge. Tape hanger on back so it can be hung on the wall.
Item number: 7
Beautiful Lacquer Plaque 13 by 9 inches. Black with two colors of inlay—blue and yellow and with genuine gold leaf.
Item number: 6
Detailed foot of the Buddha. Each symbol means something. Real gold leaf.
Item number: 2
7 inch by 4 ½ inches. (177 x 112 mm) Burmese ox cart with driver and lady. The gold is real gold. The Burmese are able to beat gold into very thin sheets—the thinnest in the world! And that gold is what is on this plaque.
Item number: 1
146. Mandalay, World’s Largest Book, A. T. Nyunt, Water Color, Burmese Mat, American Wooden Frame, Regular Glass, 11 ¼ by 13 ¼ inches, 7 by 9 inches,
145. Oxen Cart on Country Road, A. T. Nyunt, Water Color, American Wooden Frame, Regular Glass, 9 ¾ by 11 ¾ inches, 7 5/8 by 9 1//5 inches
144. Boat and Man, Bhot, Water Color, Burmese Mat and American Mat, American Wooden Frame, Regular Glass, 9 ¾ by 11 ¾ inches, 3 ¼ by 6 1/8 inches,
142. Country Side, Man Carrying Young Paddy Plants, A. T. Nyunt, Water Color, Burmese Mat, American Faux Oak Frame, Regular Glass, 12 ½ by15 ½ inches, 7 ½ by 10 ¾ inches,
140. Temple at Pagan, Hla Ma Tin, Water Color, American Fruit Wood Frame, Regular Glass, 6 5/8 by 8 3//4 inches, 4 5/8 by 6 5/8 inches
139. Country Side with Pond, Win Thein, 94, Water Color, American Oak Frame, Non Glare Glass, American Faux Oak Frame, 6 ½ by 8 ¼ inches, 4 3/8 by 6 3/8 inches
138. Temples at Pagan, Win Thein, 94, Water Color, American Mat, American Black Frame, Regular Glass, 8 ¾ by 10 ¾ inches, 4 5/8 by 56 1/8 inches
137. Country Side, Win Thein, 92, Water Color, Burmese Mat, American Painted Wood Frame, Non Glare Glass, 9 ½ by 11 ½ inches, 4 ½ by 7 inches
136. Oxen Cart, Hpoe Toe, 95, Water Color, Burmese Mat, American Wood Frame, Regular Glass, 9 ¾ by 11 ¾ inches, 4 7/8 by 8 inches,
135. Two Yoke of Oxen, Toe Toe, Water Color, Burmese Mat, American Antique Gold Frame, Regular Glass, 9 ¾ by 11 ¾ inches, 4 ¾ by 7 5/8 inches
134. Pagoda Beside River, Htay Myint, 95, Water Color, Burmese Mat, American Plastic Frame, Regular Glass, 9 ½ by 11 ½ inches, 5 by 7 7/8 inches.
133. Planting Paddy, A. T. Nyunt, Water Color, American Oak Frame, Regular Glass, 6 by 8 inches, 4 ½ by 6 ½ inches
132. Three Houses on High Bluff, A. T. Nyunt, Water Color, Faux Oak Frame, Regular Glass, 5 ¾ by 7 3/4, 4 5/8 by 6 ½ inches.
130. Monk on Bridge, A. T. Nyunt, Water Color, American Oak Frame, Regular Glass, 6 3/8 by 8 ¼ inches, 4 ½ by 6 ½ inches
129. Woman with pot, Myoe, Water Color, Two Mats, American Wood Frame, Regular Glass, 7 7/8 by 9 ¾ inches, 3 ½ b y 4 ¾ inches
128. Man With Two Cows, Artist Unknown, Water Color, Mat, American Wood Frame, Regular Glass, 5 ¾ by 7 ½ inches, 3 1/8 by 4 3/4 inches
125. Planting Paddy, A. T. Nyunt, Water Color, American Oak Frame, Regular Glass, 6 ¼ by 8 ¼ inches, 4 ½ by 6 ½ inches
120. Burmese Man, Artist Unknown, Water Color, Wooden Mat, Non Glare Glass, 10 ¾ b y 10 ¾ inches, 4 ½ by 4 ½ inches.
119. Harvesting Paddy, A. T. Nyunt, Water Color, Two American mats, American Blond Wood Frame, Regular Glass, 9 ¼ by 11 ¼ inches, 4 ¾ by 6 ¾ inches.
116. Country House with Straw Stack, Win Thein ’94, Water Color, American Wood Frame, Regular Glass, 6 ½ by 8 ½, 4 ½ by 6 ½ inches
115. Man in boat, 1994, Water Color, American Distressed Frame, Regular Glass, 7 ¼ by 9 1/2, 4 ½ by 6 ½ inches,
114. Country House, Win Thein, (19) 94, Water Color, Mat, American Oak Frame, Regular Glass, 7 ½ by 9½, 4 x 5 1/4 inches
81. Watercolor, Two Men in a Boat. Artist unknown. American frame 6 3/8 by 8 3/8 inches. Painting 3 ½ by 5 ½ inches.
84. Watercolor by Htay Myint, 1995. Pagoda by River. American Frame 9 ½ by 11 ½ inches. Painting is 5 by 8 inches.
86. Watercolor. Two Men and Four Water Buffalo. By H. Deke. American frame 9 ¾ by 11 ¾ inches. Painting is 4 ¾ by 7 ¾ inches.
91. Watercolor. Two Houses with Water Lillies. By Win Thein 1992. American frame 5 ¾ by 7 5/8 inches.
92. Watercolor. Village House. By Htay Myint 1994. American frame 8 ¼ by 10 1/8 inches. Matted. Painting 5 by 8 inches.
93. Hla Vinton. American Frame 8 ¼ by 10 ¼ inches. Two mats. Painting 3 ½ by 5 ½ inches.
153. Burma, Myanmar, original watercolor in American fruit wood frame, 7 1/2 by 9 1/2 inches, Painting is 3 by 4 1/2 inches. American mat. Regular glass. Artist MSOE. Picture is of an Inle Lake Fisherman with cone shaped net. These fishermen row standing up with one leg wrapped around the oar.
94. Burma, Myanmar, watercolor of typical village house with boat and figure. Burmese type mat. American frame. Regular glass. Overall 8 1/8 by 10 1/8 inches. Painting 5 by 8 inches. American frame–metal colored to look like wood. Signed by artist and dated
90. Watercolor. By H. T. Nyunt. American frame 6 by 8 inches. Two mats. Painting 3 by 5 inches.
88. Watercolor. River Bank, house and Boat. By Win Thein 1992. American frame 6 by 8 inches. Painting 4 3/8 by 6 ½ inches.
89. Watercolor. Artist unknown. Man with cow and calf. American frame 5 5/8 by 7 ½ inches. Painting 3 1/8 by 4 ¾ inches.
87. Watercolor, Lake House with Boat, artist unknown. American Frame 5 by 7 inches. Painting is 3 3/8 by 5 ¼ inches.
85. Watercolor. By Hpoe Toe 1995, Ox Cart. American frame. Rubbed. Frame is 9 ¾ by 11 5/8 inches. Painting is 4 ¾ by 8 inches.
83. Watercolor by Win Thein 1994. American frame 9 by 11 inches. Painting 4 5/8 by 6 1/8 inches.
82. Watercolor by Tun Aye. American frame. 6 ¼ by 8 ¼ inches. Painting 3 ¾ by 5 ¾ inches.
79. Watercolor painting, Pagan Temple, by Win Thein 1994 in American plastic frame. Frame 9 by 11 inches. Original painting 4 ¾ by 6 ¼ inches.
78. Watercolor by A. T. Nyunt, Shwedagon, American Oak Frame, 10 ¾ by 12 ¼ inches. Picture 4 ½ by 6 ½ inches
76. Man on Path. By Mehn Than Oo 1991, Water color. 1 fancy mat. 22 by 18 inches. Painting 14 ¼ by 10 ¼ inches.
75. By Mehn Than Oo. Water color. 1 mat. 12 by 15 inches. Painting 7 ½ by 15 inches.
74. West Virginia Countryside. By Mehn Than Oo. Water color. 1 mat. 11 ¾ by 14 ¾ inches. Painting 7 ½ by 9 ½ inches. The artist visited my sister and painted two views from her land
73. 1 mat. 12 ¾ by 15 ¾ inches. Painting 8 /2 by 11 ½ inches.
72. Water Color. 1 mat. 15 ¾ by 12 3/4 inches. Painting size 10 by 8 inches.
71. Sagaing Pagoda by A. T. Nynt. Water Color. 1 mat. 8 ¼ by 10 inches. Painting is 4 ½ by 6 ½ inches. I was told the queen wanted to build a pagoda. When asked what shape she wanted it to be, she bared her breast and said, “This shape.”
70. Boats by unknown artist. Watercolor. 1 mat. 6 by 8 inches. Painting 4 1/2 by 3 inches.
69. Man with Water Buffalo. Watercolor. Artist unknown. 5 ¾ by 7 ¾ inches. 1 mat. 4 ½ by 3 inches
68. Two Pagodas by River. Win Thein. Water Color. No Mat. 6 by 8 inches. There are many pagodas in Burma. They are everywhere so they show up in paintings of Burma.
67. Boat and Cliff with Three Pagodas. Water color. Win Thein. 5 7/8 by 7 7/8
inches. No mat
66. Artist’s name unreadable, 2001. Watercolor. 3 mats. 17 by 21 inches. 10 ¾ by 14 ½ inches
65. Watercolor. 1 mat. Artist unknown. 12 by 15 inches. Oval 8 by 10 inches
64. Burma scene with trees and pond. 2 mats. Saw Tint Wai 1998. Watercolor. 17 by 22 inches. Painting 10 by 15 inches.
63. Watercolor. Boat on river. 2 mats. Artist unknown. 17 by 20 ¾ inches. The painting itself is 9 ½ by 13 ½ inches
62. Watercolor painting by Burmese artist Win Thein, 1994 with pagodas beyond lilly pond. I think Win Thein is a more recognized artist. Overall dimensions 11 5/8 by 9 5/8 inches. One mat with glass. Painting is 6 1/2 by 4 1/2 inches (165 x 113 mm.)
61. Watercolor painting by Burmese artist A. T. Nyunt, 1990s with monk in front of Mindon bell. This is the largest intact bell in the world. The Russians have a larger one but it is broken. Over all dimensions 10 3/4 by 8 3/4 inches. One mat with glass. Painting is 6 1/2 by 4 1/2 inches (165 x 113 mm.) They ring their bells by hitting them with a wooden beam.
60. Watercolor painting by Burmese artist A. T. Nyunt, 1990s with monk in front of chinthe. Huge chinthe statues guard the gate to Buddhist temples. The chinthe is a mythological beast sort of a combination of a lion and dragon. Overall dimensions 10 3/4 by 8 3/4 inches. One mat with glass. Painting is 6 1/2 by 4 1/2 inches (165 x 113 mm.) Monks often carry umbrellas to protect their shaven heads from the sun.
59. Watercolor painting by Burmese artist A. T. Nyunt, 1990s with man harvesting palm sap (Toddy). Over all dimensions 11 3/8 by 9 1/2 inches. One mat with glass. Painting is 6 1/2 by 4 1/2 inches (165 x 113 mm.) The Burmese harvest the sap from the toddy palm, boil it down, and make palm sugar. They use a very flimsy ladder which they tie to the tree and climb up it. If you look carefully, you can see the pots in the top of the tree which are collecting the sap. The man in the foreground is carrying two pots of sap. Once when we were driving from Mount Popa to Meitila we saw this process. We stopped and since it was the first pot to be collected, they really wanted us to taste it because they believed the more who tasted the first pot, the greater would be the harvest. So we obliged and I hope it bought him good luck.
58. Overall dimensions 11 5/8 by 9 3/4 inches. One mat with glass. Painting is 11 1/2 by 9 1/2 inches (165 x 113 mm.)
57. Watercolor painting by Burmese artist A. T. Nyunt 1990s with tree and Mandalay fort tower. Overall dimensions 10 3/4 by 8 3/4 inches. Picture is 6 1/4 by 4 1/4 inches. (157 x 107 mm). Two mats, frame scuffed
56. Watercolor painting by Burmese artist Win Thein 1992 with river bank and pagodas. Overall dimensions 13 1/2 by 11 1/2 inches. Picture is 6 1/2 by 4 1/2 inches. (164 x 113 mm)
55. Watercolor painting by Burmese artist Win Thein 1994? with boatman and pagoda. Overall dimensions 10 3/4 by 8 3/4 inches. One mat with glass. Painting is 6 1/2 by 4 1/2 inches (163 x 114 mm.)
54. August 20-8-93, Modern aluminum frame. Watercolor on paper. Highly detailed. 14 ¼ by 11 ¼ inches. 11 by 7 ½ inches.
53. Watercolor painting by Burmese artist Win Thein 1994 with fishermen tending fish trap. Overall dimensions 10 7/8 by 9 inches. Two mats with glass. Painting is 6 3/4 by 4 3/4 inches (171 x 121 mm.)
41. Teak Frame 18 by 21 ¼ inches, frame 1 1/2 inches wide, surface carving. Regular glass. Mounted on cardboard—not matted
Watercolor painting by Burmese artist Win Thein 1994 with Pagoda, trees and lilly pond. Over all dimensions 11 5/8 by 9 3/4 inches. Two mats with glass. Painting is 6 1/2 by 4 1/2 inches (163 x 115 mm.)
Item number: 52
Watercolor by Burmese artist Win Thein. Worker with whipsaw. Exceptionally fine water color. American oak frame. Burmese mat. Overall dimensions 12 1/2 by 15 3/4 inches. Water color 8 1/4 by 13 inches. Regular glass. Watercolor with Burmese mat (not beveled).
Item number: 51
Watercolor by Burmese artist. Pre1932. Elephants working timber. Back then elephants were used extensively in Burma to work timber. Workers house in tree to avoid snakes. Each elephant had the same mahout (driver) for many years. Old American frame. Overall dimensions 7 by 14 inches. Water color 9 3/4 by 13 1/4 inches. Regular glass. Water color mounted on paper. They did not do matting back then. Typed caption.
Item number: 50
Fine water color. Burma teak frame. Burmese mat. Overall dimensions 15 1/4 by 22 inches. Water color 9 1/2 by 13 inches. Regular glass. Water color with mat. My parents brought this painting back in 1932 so it was painted before that time. During World War II much of most cities were destroyed so pre WWII paintings are not common. Back then the typical boat was padded with an oar making figure 8 pattern. Now most have motors.
Item number: 49
148. Oil painting, Elephants Fighting. By Aung Sein, Burmese artist who immigrated to Fort Wayne, Indiana. 1993. Matted. Oil on canvass board. Framed. Overall 16 7/8 by 20 ¾. Painting itself 12 by 16 inches.
112. Burman Man wearing Gongban (head covering). Sanda Win Tun 2001, Oil on canvas, Teak Frame, 20 by 16 inches, 17 ¾ by 13 ¾ inches.
110. Burman Lady, Sanda Win Tun 2005, Oil on canvas, Teak Frame, 26 5/8 by 20 ½ inches, 24 by 18 inches.
109. Watermelon Girl, Sanda Win Tun 1992, Oil on canvas, American Walnut Frame, 23 ¾ by 20 3/8 inches, 21 by 17 ½ inches. Sanda painted this picture for us from a photograph my wife took at the Mandalay train station.
108. Young Burmese Sgaw Karen Girl with Candy, Sanda Win Tun 2002, Oil on canvas, Teak Frame, 20 ¾ by 16 ¾ inches, 18 by 14 inches. She has Thanaka made from ground bark on her cheeks—a skin conditioner.
107. Sgaw Karen Young Woman, Sanda Win Tun 1992, Oil on canvas, Yinmaw wood frame. (yinmaw is a scarce, beautiful wood with wavy grain.) 24 by 18 ¾ inches, 20 by 15
106. Sanda Win Tun 1997, Oil on canvas, Teak Frame, 22 by 18 inches, 18 by 13 ¾ inches
105. Burman Man with Cheroot (Cigar) on ear. Sanda Win Tun 2003, Oil on Canvas, Teak Frame, 26 ½ by 22 ¾ inches, 20 by 16 inches
Sandra Win Tun 2002, Oil on canvas, Teak Frame, 20 ¾ by 16 ¾ inches, 18 by 14 inches. Damaged, see line of missing paint near bottom and missing paint on her hair. An expert could repair it.
103. Oil on canvas, Teak Frame, 27 1/8 by 21 1/4 inches, 23 7/8 by 18.
102. Pwo Karen Young Woman, Sanda Win Tun 1992, Oil on canvas. Teak Frame, 22 3/8 by 17 3/8 inches, 20 by 15 inches. $295.00 The Pwo Karens are one of the ethnic groups of Burma
101. Burma Boy (with Thanaka which is ground bark used as a skin conditioner). Sanda Win Tun 2005, Oil on canvas, Teak Frame, 27 ¼ by 21 3/8 inches. 24 by 18 inches.
100. Young Burman Woman, Sanda Win Tun 2001, Oil on canvas, Teak frame, 20 by 16, 17 ¾ by 13 ¾ inches.
99. Oil on canvas. Teak Frame 26 ½ by 22 ½ inches, 20 by 16 5/8 inches.
98. Kachin Lady, Sanda Win Tun 1992, Oil on canvas, American Frame, 23 3/8 by 18 3/8 inches, 20 by 15. The Kachin are one of the ethnic groups of Burma and live in the far north of Burma.
7. Old Monk, Sanda Win Tun 1995, Teak frame, oil on canvas, 24 3 /8 by 19 ½ inches, 20 by 15.
95. Girl with Pony Tail, Sanda Win Tun, 2005, Oil on canvas, Teak frame, 26 ½ by 20 3/8 inches overall, painting itself is 24 by 18 inches.
42. Carved teak frame, 16 ¾ by 20 ¾ inches, 1 ¾ wide carving. Medicare Painting oil on masonite.
Padaung Woman, Sanda Win Tun 1992, Oil on canvas, 24 3/8 by 19 ½ inches, 20 by 15 inches.
Item number: 96
42. Carved teak frame, 16 ¾ by 20 ¾ inches, 1 ¾ wide carving. Medicare Painting oil on masonite.
41. Teak Frame 18 by 21 ¼ inches, frame 1 1/2 inches wide, surface carving. Regular glass. Mounted on cardboard—not matted
44. Carved teak frame, carved clear through 12 5/8 by 14 ¾ inches, 1 ¾ wide. Non glare glass.
43. Teak carved picture frame, carved clear through. 11 ¾ by 13 7/8 inches, carving 1 ¾ wide. Non glare glass
40. Elaborately carved teak frame with two levels of carvingThe inner band is higher that the wider outer band. 13 7/8 by 12 ¼ inches. Inner raised band of carving is ¾ inches wide, outer 1 ¾ inches wide. Overall 3 inches.
Fancy carving only on one end. Carved clear through. 23 x 28 inches; carving 4 inches wide.
Item number: 38