Qing Imperial Palace Cining Palace: Vessel

CHINA, Beijing; Qing dynasty

This vessel was originally in the Cining Palace of the Qing Imperial Palace. It was typically used to contain consecrated water, but was also used to hold dried grass as an offering to the Buddha. It was made by a Tibetan monk during the Qing dynasty (1644–1911).
Although the vessel is black, it is made of silver. It has a narrow base and broad shoulders with a short neck, and the body is decorated with stringed bead designs. Above the neck, there is a feature resembling a canopy with geometrical bead patterns. There is a tube at the top in which dried grass is inserted.