Burmese High-Grade Silver Floral Bowls, Mandalay, 1900, Set of 2

Details

Description

A substantial and decorative pair of Burmese silver bowls, made in Mandalay around 1900 and richly worked in hand-chased repousse. … Read more A substantial and decorative pair of Burmese silver bowls, made in Mandalay around 1900 and richly worked in hand-chased repousse. The slightly flared bodies rise from spreading circular feet, the whole surface filled with scrolling foliage and blossoms in crisp relief. A neat band of beading defines the line under the rim.

Although clearly conceived as a pair, the bowls are not copies. One shows a female figure with a basket on her head, framed by flowering plants; the other depicts a male figure with birds among the branches. The naïve yet expressive figures give a poetic, almost narrative quality which suits both traditional and contemporary interiors.

The interiors were originally gilded. Over time the gilding has worn on the higher areas, surviving mainly in the recesses and giving a soft golden undertone. The silver has been tested and shows a fineness above 900, in keeping with high-quality Burmese work of the period.

These bowls can be used as refined table pieces for serving nuts, sweets or condiments, or simply as sculptural objects adding texture and depth to a shelf or sideboard. See less