1890 Burmese Rangoon Silver Thabeik Bowl with Mythological Chariot Battle Scene and Thaman Chah Maker’s Mark

$1,600.00
A striking antique Burmese silver thabeik bowl, heavily formed and decorated in high-relief repoussé with an elaborate woodland scene of opposing chariots and archers. The two chariots face one another, one drawn by a tiger and the other by a fantastical horned creature, while an archer and a kneeling or ducking figure occupy the space between them. Additional bowmen and deer populate the surrounding forest, creating a dynamic scene suggestive of a legendary hunt or battle. The extraordinary combination of human, animal, and mythical imagery is characteristic of the imaginative narrative repertoire of Burmese repoussé silver. The underside bears the engraved figure of a Thaman Chah (သမန်းကျား), the fantastical Burmese were-tiger, used here as the silversmith's maker's emblem. The bowl retains extensive evidence of its traditional hand-hammered construction, particularly visible on the underside. The silver has developed an attractive age-related patina that enhances the depth of the repoussé decoration. Dimensions: 9" diameter at widest point x 5" high Weight: 446 grams Material: Silver Decoration: High-relief repoussé, hand-hammered Maker's Mark: Engraved Thaman Chah (were-tiger) emblem to underside Condition: Good antique condition with age-related patina. The bowl is not water-tight, which is typical of antique Burmese thabeik bowls and their traditional construction. References: Wynyard R T Wilkinson, Indian Silver 1858-1947: Decorative Silver from the Indian Sub-Continent and Burma Made by Local Craftsmen in Western Forms, page 36, W Wilkinson & Indar Pashrical Fine Arts, London 1997 Wynyard R T Wilkinson, Mary-Louise Wilkinson and Barbara Harding, Burmese Silver from the Colonial Period, Arts of Asia, May-June 2013 Check out some other silver holloware from around the world: https://www.etsy.com/shop/DCSILVERSHOP?ref=shop_sugg§ion_id=6783258 Or just browse the whole shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/DCSILVERSHOP
A striking antique Burmese silver thabeik bowl, heavily formed and decorated in high-relief repoussé with an elaborate woodland scene of opposing chariots and archers. The two chariots face one another, one drawn by a tiger and the other by a fantastical horned creature, while an archer and a kneeling or ducking figure occupy the space between them. Additional bowmen and deer populate the surrounding forest, creating a dynamic scene suggestive of a legendary hunt or battle. The extraordinary combination of human, animal, and mythical imagery is characteristic of the imaginative narrative repertoire of Burmese repoussé silver. The underside bears the engraved figure of a Thaman Chah (သမန်းကျား), the fantastical Burmese were-tiger, used here as the silversmith's maker's emblem. The bowl retains extensive evidence of its traditional hand-hammered construction, particularly visible on the underside. The silver has developed an attractive age-related patina that enhances the depth of the repoussé decoration. Dimensions: 9" diameter at widest point x 5" high Weight: 446 grams Material: Silver Decoration: High-relief repoussé, hand-hammered Maker's Mark: Engraved Thaman Chah (were-tiger) emblem to underside Condition: Good antique condition with age-related patina. The bowl is not water-tight, which is typical of antique Burmese thabeik bowls and their traditional construction. References: Wynyard R T Wilkinson, Indian Silver 1858-1947: Decorative Silver from the Indian Sub-Continent and Burma Made by Local Craftsmen in Western Forms, page 36, W Wilkinson & Indar Pashrical Fine Arts, London 1997 Wynyard R T Wilkinson, Mary-Louise Wilkinson and Barbara Harding, Burmese Silver from the Colonial Period, Arts of Asia, May-June 2013 Check out some other silver holloware from around the world: https://www.etsy.com/shop/DCSILVERSHOP?ref=shop_sugg§ion_id=6783258 Or just browse the whole shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/DCSILVERSHOP