Antique Burmese Silver Bowl

Unusual Chinese-Style Repoussed Silver Bowl

This unusual but particularly fine bowl is Burmese in form but the decoration shows significant Chinese influence. It is repoussed with a series of vignettes about village life – farmers scything the padi, elephants pulling logs, two men felling a tree, and so on – each separated by a flourish of jungle vegetation from which various animals emerge. Each scene is further bordered by fine bamboo leaf-like work giving the bowl a, unusual Chinese aesthetic quality.

The upper frieze comprises a typical scrolling foliage border. The lower frieze comprises a wide band of pairs of addorsed

chinetei lions separated by peacocks.

Overall, this bowl is unusual and very pleasing. The workmanship is of superior quality. The condition also is good; the features have not been significantly worn by years of polishing and there are no cracks, splits of repairs.