Antique Wooden Tsampa Bowl Tibetan Nepalese Brass Buddhistic Mounts c 1900

An antique wooden Tibetan Tsampa bowl made of a dark coloured wood with applied brass buddhistic motifs with red coral and turquoise coloured beads. 

This Tibetan or Nepalese cereal bowl would originally have had a lid. It dates from around 1900, possibly earlier and has been turned and hand carved with hand applied decorative brass motifs. It has been dyed a blackish brown with the original colour of the wood showing through in places.

The motifs include birds, Buddhas and flowers but some designs are quite difficult to discern as they have age related rubbing and wear. Some of the motifs are decorated with red coral and turquoise coloured beads. Tsampa is a staple food in Tibet. Tsampa flour is made from toasted barley and mixed using the fingers with tea, yak butter, and possibly with vegetables, goat’s cheese etc. to form a porridge that is stored in and eaten from bowls such as this one.

This very decorative and collectable bowl has a little damage - age related cracks and a chip to the inside of the rim as well as some loss of brass motifs and decorative beads. It weighs 558g. A great item for display. Please see my other, similar piece also listed for sale this week and from the same collection.

Free UK postage with this item.  International shipping at cost.