Sumptuary laws were strictly observed at the Court of the Konbaung Kings--the last dynasty to rule in Burma (1752-1885). Court manuals documented and prescribed the appropriate dress and ornament for different ranks of officials to wear for particular ceremonies. The very fine 37 page parabaik, or folding manuscript, from which these three images were taken was formerly in the Royal Library of King Thibaw (r.1878-1885). It illustrates and describes the costumes and paraphernalia allowed to court by provincial officials and their wives for a royal celebration at the King's Palace at Mandalay in 1880.

Shown here is the lavishly ornamented dress, assembled in layers, worn by the wife of a minister which includes her ornate black velvet sibon (a headdress to cover hair and top-knot) decorated with beetle wings and gold lace, along with her gold, long-stemmed ear tubes and jewelled bracelets. Also shown are pages illustrating the civil and military court dress awarded to the king's Lord Chamberlain, as well as that prescribed for a provincial governor.

The pictures made by Indian artists for the British in India are called Company paintings. An artist from Calcutta, who accompanied the British Commissioners to Malun, Burma, in 1825-1826, probably painted this one. They had gone there for a conference with the king and representatives of the Burmese government. War with Burma broke out in 1824 and dragged on until February 1826. This was when the Treaty of Yandaboo began the transfer of Burmese territories, which continued until 1886. The Governor-General, Lord Amherst, and the Burmese Kinwun Mingi (Prime Minister) attended the conference of Malun, which paved the way for this treaty.

This ceremonial military costume of gold encrusted green and plum velvet was specially styled for a minister who served King Thibaw (r.1878-1885), the last king of the Konbaung Dynasty, at the Court of Mandalay. Consisting of a long fitted robe, separate sleeveless jacket and spectacular "cloud collar". The quality of the velvet, its colour and degree of gold decoration defined the minister's rank, which he had been awarded by the King.

This ceremonial military costume of gold encrusted green and plum coloured velvet, was specially created for a secretary of state, or Atwinwun, who served both King Mindon (r.1852-1878) and King Thibaw (r.1878-1885) at the Court of Mandalay.

Consisting of a long robe fitted with scalloped and winged breast and back plates and spectacular "cloud collar" under which was worn a wrap skirt called a pah-soe. The ensemble was completed with a hat fashioned like a headband fitted with ear and neck pieces. Worn on state occasions, the colour of this costume, as well as the degree of ornamentation, would have immediately indicated the minister's rank.