Vintage Miniature “Hsun Ok” Offering Vessel, Burma/Myanmar (6219)

Description

Traditionally Burmese Theravada Buddhist households use large lacquer containers (hsun oks) to routinely bring food offerings the local monasteries and temples to feed monks. The hsun ok consists of a bottom part – a round shaped bowl set on a pedestal that flares out to a circular foot-ring, and a top cover with spired lids topped by  an elegant finials that imitates the soaring outline of Burmese stupa.They are usually constructed of bamboo or another thin wood and covered with multiple coats of red lacquer of cinnabar mixed with natural tree sap, a long and laborious process. Burmese Buddhists view offerings to support monks as an important duty and that making offerings helps accumulate merit to assure better karma in their next life.

Miniature vintage hsun oks like this are generally used as home decorations or on Burmese domestic shrines to hold small items offered to Buddha images placed there along with flowers and fruits. Domestic shrines are usually built into the sidewalls of homes and are the focus of daily devotions. Made in Pagan this miniature hsun ok demonstrates the remarkable sense of design of Burmese wood carvers with circular tiers repeated on the foot and the stupa finial top.