Not currently on display at the V&A

Container

19th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Nepal (made)

Used by Buddhists and Hindus to carry offerings to a temple or wayside shrine. Inside would be placed food (naivedya), red powder (kaye bhava), liquids such as beer or wine in small containers and flowers.


Object details

Category
Metalwork
Object type
Container
Materials and techniques
Sheet brass
Brass
Brief description
Brass offering container, Nepal, 19th century
Physical description
Offering container (kala) has a lid and a curved carrying handle. The body of the container is divided into three decorative registers. Above a band of lotus petals, the lowest register shows a series of deities, each standing inside an arched niche. The central register shows the 8 Newari Buddhist auspicious symbols, ie: the endless knot (sribatsa), flower (pundarika), banner (dhvaja), yak tail (chamara), 2 fish (matsya), umbrella (chatra), 2 crossed staffs (danda) and the conch (shankha). The domed lid has a large knob in the centre and is decorated with a lotus petal design. A metal chain connects the lid to the carrying handle.
Dimensions
  • Height: 25cm
  • Body diameter: 18cm
  • Weight: 930g
Credit line
Bequeathed by Oppi Untracht
Object history
Formerly inn the collection of Oppi Untracht and collected by him while living in Nepal during the period 1963-67.
Production
Patan, Nepal
Summary
Used by Buddhists and Hindus to carry offerings to a temple or wayside shrine. Inside would be placed food (naivedya), red powder (kaye bhava), liquids such as beer or wine in small containers and flowers.
Bibliographic reference
Porvoo Museum - Oppi Untracht, Marjatta Parpola, Asko Parpola (eds): Metal Marvels: South Asian Handworks, Porvoo Museum, Finland, 1993, plate 197, page 98
Collection
South & South East Asia Collection
Accession number
IS.18-2009

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Record createdSeptember 29, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1137657/container-unknown/
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