Burmese Fortune Teller's Book

Red dots on black, bordered in a wavy red line.

This Burmese fortune teller’s book is made of paper and pigment and dates to the 19th century. Folding books like this were commonly used in Burma for horoscopes, texts and calendars. The upright cover is black with a wavy red border and three red flower-like rosettes made of dots. A pale edge is visible along one side, and the surface has the soft wear of long handling. The pattern is simple and bold, with the red dots bright against the soot-black ground, and plainly painted by hand.

Folk art on a very small scale.