Large Ornate Antique Bronze Tibetan Ceremonial Offering Bowl
Size 48 x 14 cm (19 x 5 ½ inches).  Weight 2.76 kilos (5.73 lbs)

A large and rare hand-forged antique bronze Tibetan/Himalayan Offering Bowl, circa 1850, fabulously engraved and decorated around the outer wall with 6 superbly embossed animals set within diamond-shaped frames alternating with 6 lotus flowers, and with a Tibetan Buddhist crossed dorje at its centre.   The animals featured are a tiger, peacock, horse, bird, elephant and crane, all of which are surrounded by lotus buds.  The 6 embossed lotuses are surrounded by engraved foliage that extends around the animals.  This beautiful bowl is in excellent structural condition, free of stains and blemishes, and has a lovely golden bronze colour. 

Its primary function is as a festival offering bowl containing fruit topped with garlands at a temple or shine, but I am informed that it is also used in Newari marriage ceremonies in which the groom would carry the offering of fruit and flowers shoulder-high to his bride’s house before the wedding, after which it would be placed on a plinth and filled with water and floating marigolds or petals as a welcoming feature at the entrance to the marriage venue or home. 

The exceptional quality of this antique offering bowl reflects the high status of its owner, temple or shrine.  Similar bowls of lesser quality are displayed inside the entrance to temples, grand building and hotels on festive occasions throughout Nepal.

This is the most beautiful and interesting antique ceremonial object to come into my possession in over 30 years of collecting, and it’s in superb condition!  It would equally make a decorative welcoming display inside a home or, perhaps with a candle and/or incense set in sand, a central feature in a ceremonial/meditation/yoga space.