In Burma, in front of most of the temples, pagodas and other public buildings, large, seated, mythical ‘guardian lions’ known as ‘Chinthe’ stand watch. Mostly in pairs, left and right of the entrance. If, however, such a ‘Chinthe’ is erected at the corner of a building, he receives two lions’ bodies. One, which leads on to the left facade of the building, and a seated lion’s body which is placed along the right facade of the structure. In front of the corner edge, in the middle between the two bodies, sits the single lion head. Just as with our ‘Chinthe’, at the top of the perpendicular of a Burmese carpenter or woodworker. The difference here is that instead of a lion’s head, a human head sits atop both of the lions’ bodies. This carpenter’s tool from Burma is accomplished and exactly carved of wood carved and dyed red. The carpenter, woodworker or mason hangs the upper part, with the ‘Chinthe’ figure, on the upper edge of his straight wrought workpiece. Beneath the ‘Chinthe’ runs a stepped board in an exact right-angle downwards. Exactly in the middle of this board runs a guiding groove for a thin string. At the end of this string hangs the plumb bob, a spheroidal point, made of cast brass, with a threaded screw cap above. The string is passed through a central hole in the screw cap and fastened inside the plumb bob. If the master craftsman has hung his ‘Chinthe’ and perpendicular on the upper edge of his workpiece, he can see if his work is ‘true.’ A highly original object, that shows how also other peoples of the world are able to express beauty even in everyday objects such as a work tool. An old, very finely crafted piece, with visible usage patina. No damage (the string was later replaced). H: 25 cm; W: ca. 7.8 cm (the ‘Chinthe’ and the wooden board); the brass plumb bob: H: 5 cm.; W: 3.2 cm. First half to mid-20th century. (ME)

Provenance: Austrian Private Collection.