Dish with Sanskrit characters

Neatly molded petals in shallow-relief including Sanskrit letters decorate this piece made for use by Buddhists. The refinement of forming and drawing indicate that it was crafted by the masterful hands of the imperial shop workers. The shape is serrated and fluted in two layers of petals that represent a lotus flower. The Sanskrit letter on the interior center is surrounded by two friezes of cloud-heads. The outside shows Sanskrit letters in reserve alternating with flowers in panels. Similar to one held by the Shanghai Museum, a group of these dishes must have been ordered by the court (Shanghai Mus. 1987: pl. 101).