Paired fish are an auspicious emblem (mangala) that first appeared in conjunction with the earliest Buddhist and Jain images from India. The presence this motif suggests that this bowl likely had a ritual function. The animals and dancers relate to Central Asian art, while the palmette design is similar to Sogdian and earlier Gandharan production.
Object Details
Date:5th–6th century
Culture:China (Xinjiang Autonomous Region, Central Asia)
Medium:Bronze
Dimensions:Diam. 5 1/2 in. (14 cm)
Classification:Metalwork
Credit Line:Seymour Fund, 1999
Accession Number:1999.236