Late 19th C. Massive Silver Figurative Bowl With Vessantara Jataka Scenes, Burma - 1 Piece

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Description: Late 19th c. Massive Silver Figurative Bowl, Silver, features collection of Vessantara Jataka Scenes. No discernible mark found. Origin: … Read more Description: Late 19th c. Massive Silver Figurative Bowl, Silver, features collection of Vessantara Jataka Scenes. No discernible mark found. Origin: Burma (Myanmar). Weight: approximately 115 troy ounces. Material test report: (Ag; 97.61%, Cu; 2.37%) confirm it as a high-purity piece, consistent with fine Burmese silver craftsmanship of the period.

Details: The surface is richly decorated with repousse and chased scenes depicting episodes from the Vessantara Jataka tales, a common subject in Burmese silverwork symbolizing moral lessons from the Buddha’s past lives. The repoussé technique is deeply worked, with high relief figures framed by ornate floral and geometric borders.

About: Burmese silver bowls of this type were often made as ceremonial or monastic offerings and are highly prized for their intricate artistry and religious subject matter. This type of bowl was adapted for local Burmese aristocracy and European clients and eventually took on a more ornamental role. Thabeik bowls have no ceremonial or religious use; they are purely ornamental. Burmese silver and goldsmiths were known for this type of delicately chased metalwork before their style became affected by the late 19th century European taste for flamboyant decoration. The present bowl was probably made for the Burmese market, before any European influence.

The absence of maker’s marks is not unusual, as many Burmese silversmiths of the 19th century worked anonymously for temple or private commissions. The size, weight, and craftsmanship of this example place it in the upper tier of collectible Burmese silver. See less