Burmese Xylophone – Pattala

Lacquered Wood & Bamboo Xylophone (Pattala) & Two Strikers

The traditional Burmese orchestra has a range of instruments such as circles of drums and gongs, bamboo clappers and wind instruments, but this item, a type of known as a pattala, was designed to be played as a solo instrument.

It comprises a boat-shaped box – high at either end and low in the middle – open at the top and with numerous tuned bars all made of bamboo strung across the opening. It sits on a square, tiered foot decorated in red lacquer.

The sides are decorated with gilded lacquerwork inset with foil-backed glass mosaics and moulded, extruded lacquer

thayo work, and the ends are of wood carved and pieced in a floral pattern.

The

pattala comes with its original pair of strikers. The instrument produces a delicate and very pleasing sound when played.

The item is fine condition. There are minor age-related losses to the gilding only.