1-233-770 - The Museum of East Asian Art/Heritage Images

Red brass alms bowl with niello inlays, High Tang period, Tang dynasty, China, 684-756. A niello-inlaid red brass alms-bowl shaped circular container; the mouth inverted and surrounded by a narrow band of red brass, the red brass body cast with nine rows of red brass four petalled flowers, each petal has a square niello inset. The body is otherwise covered by a thick niello inlay and the base has a slightly raised undecorated section. The interior has a small hidden loop possibly for a chain to attach a lid.