Burmese Silver Bowl
Repoussed Silver Bowl
Burma
circa 1880
height: 9.8cm, diameter: 16cm, weight: 456g
This finely repoussed silver bowl shows multiple scenes of figures all in Burmese dress in medium-high relief. The scenes include a courtly scene of a ruler seated on his platform throne, and probably related to Burmese Buddhistic lore.
Each scene is in a cartouche separated by leafy, scrolling pendants.
The lower frieze comprises a wide band of acanthus leaves interspersed with flower motifs.
The upper frieze is composed of an engraved band or petal motifs and a raised scrolling orchid band.
The base is plain and unadorned.
The bowl is without dents, splits or repairs. The surface has some wear from polishing throughout the decades, which is helpful in determining that the bowl is not a recently produced bowl from Burma (Myanmar). The repousse work has many pinprick holes sometimes seen among bowls of this type.
References
Fraser-Lu, S., Silverware of South-East Asia, Oxford University Press, 1989.
Fraser-Lu, S.,
Burmese Crafts: Past and Present, Oxford University Press, 1994.
Tilly, H.L.,
The Silverwork of Burma (with Photographs by P. Klier), The Superintendent, Government Printing, 1902.
Tilly, H.L.,
Modern Burmese Silverwork (with Photographs by P. Klier), The Superintendent, Government Printing, 1904.Provenance:
UK art market
Inventory no.: 2983
SOLD