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Antique 20thC Burmese Solid Silver "Mahajanaka Jataka" Bowl, Rangoon c.1928
$18,798.17
£13,795
€16,258.80
CA$25,871.64
A$28,836.64
CHF 15,129.59
MX$352,142.35
NOK 191,573.56
SEK 181,066.15
DKK 121,346.51
About the Item
Antique 20th Century exceptional Burmese (Myanmar) large solid silver thabeik bowl, repoussé decorated in high relief with scenes from Burmese mythology, depicting scenes from the Mahajanaka Jataka
Lower Burma (Myanmar), Dated 1928. The underside bears a Burmese inscription dated 1290 ME (1928 CE), translated as: "Mr. Pa Tyint's silver bowl."
This exceptional silver thabeik (offering bowl) is a superb example of Burmese craftsmanship at the height of the country’s Silver Age, a period from approximately 1850 - 1930 that coincided with British colonial expansion, the decline of the Burmese monarchy, and growing cross-cultural patronage. As royal commissions waned, elite silversmiths redirected their artistry to serve a new clientele comprising prosperous Burmese Buddhists, Indian merchants, and European expatriates. The result was a flourishing of decorative silverware, typified by ceremonial bowls such as this one.
The bowl is meticulously repoussé decorated in high relief with a continuous narrative frieze depicting scenes from the Mahajanaka Jataka, one of the hundreds of stories recounting the former lives of the Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama. This particular tale dramatizes the perfection of virya (vigor or perseverance), beginning with war and concluding in a reign of peace lasting 7,000 years. Burmese silversmiths often favored this jataka for its visual drama, sumptuously adorned war elephants, chariots, royal figures, and scenes of palace life, all rendered with remarkable precision and expressive detail. The figures and animals here are set against a finely chased matted ground, framed above and below by traditional floral and geometric borders.
Although modeled on the alms bowls carried by Buddhist monks, silver offering bowls were deeply symbolic and served multiple roles in Burmese households. Used to present offerings at monasteries or shrines, they were also objects of spiritual instruction, visual storytelling, and social prestige. In Theravāda Buddhism, karmic merit is generated not only by the act of giving but also by the value of the item given. As such, the bowl itself became part of the offering. High-quality examples like this were treasured possessions, often lent to others in the community so they, too, could perform acts of merit, thus benefiting both lender and borrower.
In contrast to European silverware, which was typically hallmarked, Burmese silver made for domestic use was seldom signed by the maker. Inscribing one’s own name on a sacred vessel was seen as vain. Instead, it was customary to inscribe the owner’s name beneath the base for practical and religious reasons, ensuring the bowl could be returned after communal use and recording who would receive the spiritual merit of the offering.
This bowl, dated 1928, represents a mature phase of the Burmese Silver Age. Its form, decoration, and purpose reflect the unique convergence of artistic excellence, Buddhist devotion, and evolving cultural identities under colonial rule. By the early 20th century, such bowls were not only instruments of faith but also objects of historical and artistic legacy. This piece stands as both a sacred vessel and a cultural artifact, elegantly merging technical mastery with moral and spiritual resonance.
This item has been published - Burmese Silver Art: Masterpieces Illuminating Buddhist, Hindu and Mythological Stories of Purpose and Wisdom, 2020, p.93, no.S120, fig.3.90.
Bonhams, The Noble Silver Collection: Treasures from the Burmese Silver Age, 14 – 24 March 2022, New York, lot 903.
CONDITION
In Great Condition - Wear expected with age. Please refer to photographs.
SIZE
Height: 17 cm // 6.69 inches
Diameter: 32 cm // 12.60 inches
Weight: 1640 grams // 52.72 ozt
- Dimensions:Height: 6.3 in (16 cm)Diameter: 12.6 in (32 cm)
- Style:Other (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1928
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor fading. In Great Condition - Wear expected with age. Please refer to photographs.
- Seller Location:Royal Tunbridge Wells, GB
- Reference Number:Seller: DO113191stDibs: LU1348245134392
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