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A SILVER TREASURE BOX WITH SCENES FROM THE
VIDHURA-PANDITA JATAKA
LOWER BURMA (MYANMAR), CIRCA 1910
9 1/2 in. (24 cm) long; 34 troy oz (1,066 grams) approximate weight
$10,000 - 15,000
The Vidhura-Pandita Jataka is a poignant subject for a box intended
for jewelry and luxury goods. The lid depicts an intricate palatial scene
centering on a dice game whereby King Dhananjaya, seduced by the
chance to win a magical jewel, foolishly bets away his most precious
‘gem’—his spiritual advisor, the bodhisattva Vidhura. Thus, before
accessing the box’s contents, one is reminded of the trappings of
material wealth and the primacy of one’s spiritual attainment.
Published:
Owens, Burmese Silver Art, p.160, no.S56, figs.4.78 & 4.79.
96 | BONHAMS
