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The Sinswe Wut ( Ivory Shrine)

This 'Ivory shrine' was built in 1900 by U Tun Kyaw and wife, Mi Htaw. It is so-called because it used to house a collection of fine ivory carvings. There were 10 pairs of ivory tasks carved with Buddhist motifs, but they are no longer there now as they had been stolen during the period when security was bad in the area. The building's flowing design embodies many features of Chinese architecture. There is a rotunda in the front part which is lined inside with picture paintings. Although the paintings are of ancient or mythical events one of them contains the picture of a house which is said to represent the famous single-pillered house in Kadoe. It is to be noted that this particular house was built by U Shwe Lay, the son of U Tun Kyaw, about whom we have related previously. The double-tiered ceiling over the main shrine is profusely painted in gold with delicate traditional designs. Also to be found in the arched portions of the ceilings are large circular glass mosaic works. The supporting beams have plaster carvings representing floral festoons painted in pink. The latter resemble European art rather than Asian. The building contains a cage-like structure of steel which used to house the precious ivory collection. Inside this structure is a specially built pedestral on which the ivory carvings were placed. The shrine also houses a 'Flower Buddha', a Buddha image made out of the dried petals of flowers.

Condition of the building
The building is relatively well preserved and needs some patchwork and paintings.

- The curved metal ceiling-work on the outside of the building had corroded and had now been replaced.
   The ceramic plates on some portions of the walls and floors need to be replaced.
- The missing ivory pieces will also have to be substituted when conditions permit.

 

The Sinswe Wut (Ivory shrine). The shrine was built in 1900 by U Tun Kyaw. Note the Chinese styled architecture.	Potrait of U Tun Kyaw, builder of the Sinswe wut, on the wall of the shrine.		The steel "cage" in which the ivory carvings were kept.
The floral arches strung across the lower edges of the ceiling works.	Ceiling of the main hall.	The 'Flower- Buddha'. The image was made from dried flower petals.