Antique Burmese Hand-Chased Silver Bowl, c.1900

A finely crafted antique Burmese silver bowl, dating to the late 19th to early 20th century, circa 1900. The exterior is richly hand-chased with alternating panels of stylised birds set among scrolling foliage, framed by traditional Burmese decorative borders.

The bowl is compact but beautifully worked, with deep repoussé and chased decoration covering the exterior surface. The interior is left plain, creating a pleasing contrast with the richly decorated outer body. Its small scale makes it ideal for cabinet display, while the detailed bird and foliate design gives it strong decorative and collector appeal.

Details

Item: Small silver bowl
Origin: Burma / Myanmar
Date / Period: Late 19th to early 20th century, circa 1900
Material: High-grade silver, unmarked, as is typical for Burmese silver of this type
Technique: Hand-chased repoussé and engraving
Decoration: Stylised birds in scrolling foliage with traditional Burmese borders
Diameter: 7.5 cm
Height: 6.0 cm
Weight: 68.6 grams
Interior: Plain / unadorned
Exterior: Richly decorated
Condition: Excellent antique condition

Condition

Excellent antique condition with no dents or repairs noted. Light age-related patina is present to the base, consistent with age and use. The interior is unadorned and the exterior is richly decorated. Please review all photographs carefully, as they form part of the description.

Historical and Collector Context

Burmese silverwork of the late 19th and early 20th century is admired for its richly hand-worked surfaces, often decorated with animals, foliage, mythological scenes and traditional scroll borders. These pieces were commonly produced by skilled silversmiths in Burma, particularly around Mandalay and Rangoon, for local ceremonial use, betel-related customs and the export market.

Unlike British silver, Burmese silver is often unmarked, with quality and origin assessed through construction, decoration, technique and metal content rather than formal assay marks. The repoussé and chasing work on this bowl reflects the strong decorative tradition associated with Burmese silver of the period.

The stylised birds and scrolling foliage give the piece a lively, ornamental quality, making it appealing both as a small collector’s object and as a refined decorative silver display piece.

A beautiful small antique Burmese silver bowl, rich in hand-worked detail and well suited to collectors of Asian silver, colonial-era decorative arts and finely chased antique metalwork.