'garuda' carving; carved mythological bird, probably a Garuda; gilded metal spurs inset mirrors, green and red glass decorations; on stand w/ large central hole; platforms where wings should be; platforms are decorated on underside with mirrors; h. at tail 46.5 cm.
Donor:
John O. Stevens
Collection place:
Myanmar (Burma)
Verbatim coll. place:
Burma, vicinity of Prome, Karen
Culture or time period:
Karen
Collector:
Grandparents of John O. Stevens
Collection date:
1900
Materials:
Metal and Wood (plant material)
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Carvings (visual works)
Function:
5.1 Religion and Divination: Objects and garb associated with practices reflecting submission, devotion, obedience, and service to supernatural agencies
Context of use:
donor's grandparents were missionaries to the Karen. they bought the bird to the U.S. prior to 1900. it probably was displayed on a pole. donor said it once had a "fig" in its mouth. this might have been the pearl commonly carried by garuda. something, probably Vishnu, formerly on bird's back. if the bird is not a garuda, it may be a 'hamsa' (fide Henry Ginsberg, Dept. of Se. Asian languages).