Burma Arts through Soviet Eyes: A Postcard Set from the USSR

In the early 1960s, cultural exchange between the Soviet Union and Asia found expression not only in exhibitions and publications, but also in beautifully produced picture postcards. One such result was a scarce postcard set titled “Burma Arts”, issued by the Soviet publisher “Soviet Artists”.

The set comprises 10 postcards, offered at a retail price of 22 kopecks, and was designed by L. Snegirev. Each postcard measures 10.5 × 14.5 cm, and the set was issued in 1964. With a modest print run of just 5,000 sets, it was clearly intended for a limited audience of art lovers and collectors rather than mass circulation.

Wrapper of the postcard set

The postcards reproduce a carefully curated selection of Burmese artistic works, representing both traditional crafts and modern fine art:

1. Fragment of an embossed chasing pattern on a silver bowl from Sagaing, early 19th century

2. Fragment of lacquer painting on a betel nut box made by craftsmen from Pagan, 20th century

3. Buddha image in canonical pose, bronze, 19th century

4. Elephant at work, wood sculpture, 20th century

5. Ceremonial departure, miniature ivory sculpture, 20th century

6. Fragment of a pattern on fabric, 20th century

7. Watercolour “At the Pagoda” by U Lar Ban, c. 1950s

8. Watercolour “Village Scene” by U Ba San, c. 1950s

9. Watercolour “The Lake” by U Ba San, c. 1950s

10. Oil painting “On the Pier” by U Ngwe Gaing, 20th century

These works were drawn from objects and paintings exhibited in 1963 at the State Museum of Oriental Art, where Burmese art was presented to Soviet audiences as part of a broader cultural showcase. The selection deliberately spans centuries and media, from religious bronzes and ivory carvings to lacquerware, textiles, and modern paintings.

Significantly, this postcard set represents the first Soviet issue devoted entirely to artistic examples from Burma, covering a wide range of art forms that developed across different historical periods. Today, the “Burma Arts” postcard set stands as a small but meaningful testament to early international recognition of Burmese artistic heritage—and a fascinating crossover item for collectors of postcards, art history, and Burma-related material alike.