Description: Late 19th c. Silver Figurative Bowl, Silver, features collection of Ramayana Scenes (Yama Zatdaw). Marked  "Kyaikhto Township" (Mon state). Origin: Burma (Myanmar). Weight: approximately 39.8 troy ounces. Material test report: (Ag; 94.96%, Cu; 5.01%) confirm it as a high-purity piece, consistent with fine Burmese silver craftsmanship of the period.

Measures: 10.5 D x 6 H inches.

Details: The surface is richly decorated with repousse and chased scenes depicting episodes from the Burmese version of the Indian Ramayana epic (known in Burma as the Yama Zatdaw). The repoussé technique is deeply worked, with high relief figures framed by ornate floral and geometric borders.

About: Burmese silver bowls of this type were often made as ceremonial or monastic offerings and are highly prized for their intricate artistry and religious subject matter. This type of bowl was adapted for local Burmese aristocracy and European clients and eventually took on a more ornamental role. Thabeik bowls have no ceremonial or religious use; they are purely ornamental. Burmese silver and goldsmiths were known for this type of delicately chased metalwork before their style became affected by the late 19th century European taste for flamboyant decoration. The present bowl was probably made for the Burmese market, before any European influence.

The absence of maker’s marks is not unusual, as many Burmese silversmiths of the 19th century worked anonymously for temple or private commissions. The size, weight, and craftsmanship of this example place it in the upper tier of collectible Burmese silver.