September 1879
Jacket of King Thibaw
room United Kingdom
This navy silk jacket with brown fur lining was presented by HM King Thibaw in September 1879 to Mr George Swan of Rangoon, General Manager of the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company. The jacket is now owned by Glasgow City Council Musuems. The jacket is a version of the Manchu magua (馬褂) jacket. It was originally restricted to elite Qing Bannermen cavalry, but by the 18th century was fashionable (and allowed to be worn) by rich Chinese. Over the 19th century it was gradually introduced and copied in Burma and became a staple of men's casual wear. A local version - the taikpon - was adopted as part of men's formal wear in the early 20th century, replacing more traditional eingyi.
Explore more in Late Konbaung Myanmar and the English Wars (1824-1885AD)