Page 116 - Bonhams March 22 2022 Indian and Himalayan Art NYC

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A SILVER PIERCED OFFERING BOWL WITH SCENES FROM Employing an unforgiving, high-volume-pierce technique throughout
THE RAMAYANA the bowl’s circumference, the silversmith draws out seven framed
LOWER OR MIDDLE BURMA (MYANMAR), CIRCA 1915 vignettes from the Ramayana, with vaulting monkey-soldiers depicted
5 3/4 in. (14.5 cm) high; 11 3/8 in. (29 cm) diameter; between each of them. The intent to visually transcribe a literary
36 troy oz (1,131 grams) approximate weight version of the Ramayana is evident. For didactic clarity, the artist
includes—off-center and behind some visual barrier, such as a tree—
$12,000 - 16,000 characters whose actions drive a scene’s plot but in which they do not
actually participate. The artist also incorporates a common didactic
feature in retellings of the Jataka Tales in Burmese silver by including
onlookers, here cleverly positioned behind wavy bands that are
required for the structural integrity of the openwork bowl but also hint
at rolling hills in the background.

Published:
Owens, Burmese Silver Art, pp.84-5, no.S150, fig.3.69.

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