K26 A blue Alms bowl, 19th century

Description

Description:   Chinese porcelain bowl, covered with a blue glaze. This bowl may be mistaken with a censer, but actually it is an alms bowl, the type of bowls used by the Buddhist’s monks for begging charity. In fact the inner edge has a circular camber to facilitate grip, and there are no feet.

Dating:  19^th century

Size:  20.6 cm diameter

Provenance:  Antiquarian market

References:  The last picture is showing an alms bowl from the British Museum.

Notes:  From the description of the Reference bowl of the BM: “Begging bowls, or alms bowls, are distinguished from ordinary bowls as they have rounded bottoms and interned mouths. The alms bowl is perhaps the most important object for daily use by a Buddhist monk. It is used as a vessel in which to collect alms (either money or food) from lay supporters. This example has a metal rim which enhances its status from simple clay. It is also covered with a white slip inside and iron-brown glaze outside.”