Burmese Footed Silver Bowl with Scenes of Rice Culture & Trade

This large and elegant Burmese footed bowl is repoussed and chased with multiple scenes connected to rice growing and trade.  It is the only time we have seen such a theme so expansively depicted on Burmese silverware. Scenes include, the growing or rice in the field, the milling of it, the transport of rice sheaves by buffalo-drawn wooden cart, and river ships presumably laden with rice.

The bowl has gently tapering sides, and stands on a wide foot. The foot is finely decorated with a scrolling orchid motif (dha-zin-gwei). The lower register of the bowl is decorated with Burmese zodiac symbols among others.

Such bowls are based on the plain, black lacquer alms bowls used by Burmese monks. These bowls are one of the eight parikkharas or possessions allowed a monk. In turn, such bowls are based on a bowl that the Buddha himself is said to have used. But silver bowls such as the example here had no ceremonial or religious use; they are purely decorative.

This bowl is in excellent condition. From a private English collection, most probably it has been in the UK since colonial times.