 |
|
Home |
|
Shan 19th Century Hsun-ok Ceremonial Offering Bowl browse these categories for related items... All Items: Archives:Regional Art:Asian:Southeast Asian: Pre 1900: item # 696717 Please refer to our stock # 63-03 when inquiring.
Silk Road Gallery PO Box 2175 Branford, Connecticut 06405, USA (203) 208-0771 Guest Book SOLD |
|
||||||||||||
| A very fine 19th century lacquer offering bowl, or hsun-ok, from the Shan people in Burma has a tall gilded spire marking it for use only on special ceremonial occasions. Shan hsun-ok for daily use were wider with a lower spire and no gilding. Cinnabar-colored lacquerware from the Shan states in the eastern part of Burma is known for the depth and warmth of the red hue, and this piece showcases that. Because they were made for the meritorious act of presenting offerings to the monasteries, hsun-ok always were made with care. This is one of the best examples of Shan artistry with lacquer hsun-ok that we have seen. Its form is majestic, with curved rings leading upwards to the spire, giving it a soaring quality. A narrow band of molded lacquer, originally gilded, encircles the base of the spire serving as an introduction to the higher gilded sphere with molded scrolling and inlaid glass. The top of the spire is carved in the shape of the stupa monuments that mark important Buddhist sites throughout Burma. Many layers of lacquer, each coat dried for a week or more, then burnished by hand, cover the wood used for the bowl and lid. Wood construction also sets this piece apart from the more commonly used offering bowls, which typically were formed with bamboo basketry. The hollow bottom section supporting the bowl is made of multiple layers--25 or more--of coiled bamboo split into tiny wire-like lengths. Reserved for special devotional days, this hsun-ok is in very good condition, with appropriate wear on the gilding at the base of the spire where the lid was grasped when it was removed. Black lacquer shows through the red on the edges of the curved, stepped rings, giving the piece an especially attractive patina. Dimensions: height 30" (76 cm), diameter 15" (38 cm). | |||||||||||||
|
