Description
OASM/B020
Burmese, Bamar people.
Mandalay, Burma/Myanmar
Ceremonial offering vessel, hsun-ok
Bamboo, wood, lacquer, gold leaf, metal and glass.
35.5 inches x 17.750 inches x 17.750 inches. 12.82lbs
Very good condition. Some of the last coil of bamboo has come loose on the bottom edge but is had a native repair with wrapped wire. Some of the gold leaf has worn through to the black lacquer base.
This is a wonderful example of Burmese offering vessels, hsun-ok. Mandalay is known for this style with heavy inlayed glass and gilded with gold leaf. Just about every Burmese home has some form of these elegant vessels that would be used to transport and offer gifts to a monastery or temple for merit.
This hsun-ok is made from a coiled basket and wood core and then layered with natural lacquer. Decorated with ribbons of lacquer called thayo. 16 embedded cutglass “jewels” in red and yellow, mintzi technique, surround the lid and is mimicked on the base below. Smaller pieces of fragmented glass accent, hman zi shew, accent the rings interlaced with ribbons of thayo work. Then finished with gold leaf. Its further embellished with the hintha which give the vessel additional importance.
The donor’s name is written in Burmese with white pigment on the orange lacquer base.
