Description
A Chinese bronze alms bowl of globular form with a thin rim encircling the mouth. Buddhist alms bowls of this kind served a range of purposes from practical to ceremonial. This understated yet bold form was likely introduced to China from Central Asia. In later years they were repurposed as incense burners.
Its difficult to date this form as it has been reused continuously throughout Chinese history. However the shape and form of Chinese bronze alms bowls change over time and based on the patina and subtle variations in the shape of this bowl is likely to be prior to the 10th century.
Size (cm): 24 x 18
China, late Tang (618–907)–early Song (960–1279) dynasty
Black lacquer with coiled wood substrate; H. 4 13/16 in. (12.2 cm); Diam. 8 5/8 in. (21.9 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Gift of Florence and Herbert Irving, 2015 (2015.500.1.79)
http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/39695
