
Copper-nickel
This vessel was used to hold holy water on the six Uposatha days, or days of cleansing one’s mind, that are observed each month by Buddhist monks. It was listed as a National Cultural Treasure in 1964.
The body is silver-plated, while the base, spout, and lid are gilded. The pear-shape body stands on a round base. It has a raised band around the circumference and an embossed ring of lotus leaves where the spout is attached. The neck has a gentle concave curvature with a raised band in the center. The wide mouth is covered by a decorated lid surmounted by a narrow cylinder. The spout has a slight curvature.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Artifacts, page 162.