Large offering vessel

Title

Year/Period

Mid 19th-early 20th century

Region

Burma

Object Type

ceremonial containers

Material

lacquer (material), clay, sawdust, colored glass, semiprecious stone

Technique

lacquering, inlay (process), gilding (technique), forming (physical activity)

Dimension

Object size: 100 cm x Dia.: 46.5cm

Accession No.

2005-01290

Collection of

Asian Civilisations Museum

Credit Line

Gift of Mr.Hwang Soo Jin

This offering vessel, also known as hsun-ok, was used to carry food offerings to a monastery for special ceremonies.The body consists of a wide bowl set on a pedestal, while the top resembles a stupa, which is traditionally used to house precious relics in the Buddhist tradition. The exterior of the vessel is decorated with elaborate relief work made of thayo—a mixture of lacquer, sawdust, clay and ash—gilding and coloured glass inlay. The hintha bird at the top represents the goose (hamsa), the mount of Brahma and alludes to the sacred use of the vessel.