Burmese Kalagas

A kalaga is an elaborate embroidered tapestry with appliqué elements made of various materials such as silk, wool and lace. Padded figures and animals are cut from cloth and embellished with metallic threads ('shwe-chi-doe'), sequins and beads. The overall art usually depicts a scene from Buddhism or Hinduism. They can take weeks or even months to complete due to their intricate nature.

The word 'kalaga' directly translates directly as curtain and they were originally made for royal palaces.To make one of these tapestries initially the cloth is stretched over a frame and then heavy metallic thread is sewn by hand. Any figures are then cut and attached to the background, and stuffed with cotton to add a relief element. Once the scene is completed the artist adds swirling patterns and sequins to fill the background. Each kalaga is unique to the artist and no two are the same.