Page 102 - Bonhams March 22 2022 Indian and Himalayan Art NYC

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A SILVER OFFERING BOWL WITH SCENES FROM THE SAMA The Noble Silver Collection began with the acquisition of this bowl
JATAKA depicting scenes from the Sama Jataka. Visual delight and intrigue
LOWER BURMA, DATED 1853 induced the rather impulsive purchase, but an interest in deciphering
The underside has a dated inscription, translated "1215 [1853 CE], such narratives sustained a continued passion for collecting Burmese
7th July. Mr Lon Thar's silver bowl". silverwork.
6 1/2 in. (16.5 cm) high; 8 1/8 in. (20.5 cm) diameter;
22 troy oz (684 grams) approximate weight The Sama Jataka's linear narrative was an ideal subject for
silversmiths. Arranged into ten landscaped vignettes, the bowl shows:
$8,000 - 12,000 the ascetic couple to whom the miraculous birth of the bodhisattva
was a boon; his caring for them after they were poisoned and blinded
by a serpent; his mortal wounding by a hunter-king, and that king's
show of remorse before grief-stricken parents; and finally the divine
intervention of a local goddess who resurrects the bodhisattva,
rewarding the loving-kindness both he and his parents demonstrate
throughout the story.

Published:
Owens, Burmese Silver Art, p.68, no.S1, fig.3.46..

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