Lot 164
Central Asia, China and Tibet border regions, Sino-Tibetan, ca. 19th century CE. A quiet object with a confident voice, this Sino-Tibetan brass tea bowl balances utility and ornament with remarkable ease. Its broad, gently flaring walls rise from a short footed base, creating a form perfectly suited to cradling warm tea during long rituals, conversations, or moments of contemplation. The exterior surface is densely engraved with interlocking geometric patterns that ripple across the bowl like a woven textile rendered in metal. Bands of repeating motifs encircle the body, punctuated by roundels inlaid with gold, their labyrinthine designs glowing softly against the darker ground. Fine silver inlay threads through the composition, adding cool highlights that catch the light and reward close inspection. Size: 5.5" Diameter x 2.75" H (14 cm x 7 cm)
Areas of iron contamination appear throughout the surface, producing subtle variations in tone from deep brown to smoky gray. These irregularities are not flaws but quiet witnesses to age, use, and the complex metallurgy of the region. The patina is rich and layered, suggesting generations of handling rather than decorative neglect.
The interior shows heavy wear and mineral accretion consistent with prolonged use, reinforcing the bowl's functional life rather than ceremonial isolation. The foot is similarly worked, decorated with vertical incisions that echo the rhythmic language of the upper registers. Tea bowls of this type were central to daily life across Himalayan and borderland cultures, used for butter tea and other beverages essential to both hospitality and sustenance. This example stands as a particularly engaging survivor, where gold, silver, brass, and iron quietly collaborate, producing an object that is at once humble, durable, and visually captivating.
Provenance: private Lafayette, Colorado, USA collection
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#200395
- Condition: Stabilization to fissure on one side. Heavy weathering with nicks, abrasions, and iron contamination as shown. Otherwise, nice presentation with rich patina and good remains of gold and silver inlays.
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