These 3 slim birds came from Myanmar. Two of the birds are of greenstone and one of light blue glass. All three are perforated from the top of the head to the tail and so are beads. Were they meant to be worn and what is their function ?
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| My three birds from Myanmar |
The larger of the greenstone birds is 6.5cm long. Of slender shape, its head is simply shaped with a pair of bulbous eyes, a beak and a peak at the back possibly representing a crest. The head is slightly uplifted.
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| Greenstone bird |
The wings are carved more like a turtle shell and has three sharp slits on each side, while the perching claws are tiny knobs.
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| 3 slits at the wing side |
The smaller bird is 5.2 cm long and is identical in design to the larger bird.
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| Smaller bird |
Here's a close up of the pair.
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| Close up |
The blue glass bird is tiny measuring only 3cm. Its structural form follows that of the other two birds.
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| Blue glass bird |
The tails of the 2 greenstone birds are leaf-shaped with a centre dividing line and are 3.2 cm and 2.2cm respectively. By comparison with the heads, the tails are in better condition and retain their lustre.
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| Long tails |
Bird forms of this type are also seen in Neolithic China. There are examples of such birds in the publication Gu yu tu shi (Ancient Jade Patterns Explained) on page 067 attributed to China's New Stone age up to Shang dynasty (1600-1046 BC).
During Myanmar's Pyu dynasty (around 2nd century BC to 11th century AD ), similar carnelian and agate bird forms have also been found. Such birds have been described by collectors' as perching parrots and sometimes as parakeets. I am hoping that my birds belong to this category except the tails are much longer and I would perhaps call my birds peacocks.
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| Peacocks or parakeets ? |
