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The central decorative motif on the belly of the vessel is a gilt dragon surrounded by Buddhism’s Eight Auspicious Symbols, also highlighted in gold. The spout emerges from the mouth of a water monster (makara). The base is in the pattern of a stylized lotus much like bases found on sculpture.
A parcel-gilt silver ritual ewer
OriginTibet or Mongolia
Date19th century
Dimensions11 1/8 × 6 3/4 × 4 in.
MediumParcel-gilt silver
Classification(s)
Credit LineRubin Museum of Art
Object numberC2011.11
DescriptionEwers such as this are used for pouring liquid offerings during daily offerings, initiation ceremonies, and other rituals. This ewer could have been part of a monastic setting or a lay household shrine and is a good example of the exquisite silver metalwork with traditional Tibetan symbols and aesthetic elements found in ritual items from the region.The central decorative motif on the belly of the vessel is a gilt dragon surrounded by Buddhism’s Eight Auspicious Symbols, also highlighted in gold. The spout emerges from the mouth of a water monster (makara). The base is in the pattern of a stylized lotus much like bases found on sculpture.
late 18th or early 19th century
18th century
18th - 19th century
19th century
13th century
15th century
18th century
19th century
15th century
first half of the 15th century