Royal/ceremonial vessel; Barge; Burmese royal barge

Scale: 1:12. A full hull model of a Burmese ceremonial barge (circa 1890) made entirely in wood and painted in realistic colours. The vessel is depicted with a passenger being rowed by four oarsmen and a crew member operating the steering oar. The hull has a projecting ram bow and 'fish tail' stern, and is stained and polished a dark mahogany brown. There is an elaborately decorated cabin aft with a pitched roof and carved gables. The barge has four painted and jointed oarsmen, a steersman stood at the tiller and a seated figure, all depicted wearing ceremonial dress and with their features illustrated. Forward of the oarsmen, the mast is mounted in a tabernacle which allows it to be lowered or removed completely. It is steered by an oar over the port quarter. The model is mounted on a pair or platted wires crutches and displayed on a rectangular mahogany baseboard with straight bevelled edges and bun feet.