Add Or 2589-2593

Five designs for Sir Richard Carnac Temple’s proposed book, ‘The Thirty-seven Nats’, eventually published London, 1906.

By Burmese artists, c.1890.

Inscribed in pencil with notes by Sir Richard Carnac Temple.

Water-colour; 48 by 69 cms.

Presented by Sir Richard Temple, together with Burmese Mss 207-209.

Note: In the end only the Burmese title and the central design of the Buddha were used for the title page of ‘The Thirty-seven Nats’. The other designs did not suit ‘English taste’ for the book was eventually published with a cover of crimson silk woven with a lotus pattern, green and dull red mottled end-papers, and head and tail-pieces made from Burmese drawings of the Nats. Sir Richard Carnac Temple (1859-1931) of the Indian Army served in the Burmese war of 1887-1889. He was President of the Rangoon Municipality in 1891. The drawings for his book together with these designs were probably collected at this time although the present designs may have been obtained from Burma when plans for the publication of his book were more advanced.

Add.Or.2589

Design for title page with title in Burmese and figure of the Buddha, the whole surrounded with a floral scroll border. Spaced left for English title and imprint.

Inscribed: ‘Design for title page - made by Burmans in Rangoon. RT. 20/6/06.’

Add.Or.2590

Mauve scroll designs proposed for tail pieces.

Inscribed: ‘Burmese scroll designs which might be photoed down for tail pieces. RT.’

Add.Or.2591

Mauve leaf and floral scroll designs.

Inscribed: ‘Burmese design which might be photoed down for head pieces or utilised in some way.’

Add.Or.2592

Striped pattern in mauve, red, yellow and gold.

Inscribed: ‘Burmese design for outer cover - colours will have to be changed I suspect for English taste. Title can be blocked on to this.’

Add.Or.2593

Floral design in mauve , red yellow and gold.

Inscribed: ‘Burmese design for inner cover - colours will have to be changed I suspect for English taste’; on back: ‘Burmese designs’.