The vase numbered ko has a diameter of 42.2 cm at the neck, in the central part of the body – 61.9 cm, height – 49.4 cm, weight – 37 kg. The vase numbered otsu has a neck diameter of 42.9 cm, in the central part of the body – 61.3 cm, height – 46.6 cm, weight – 35.1 kg. Thus, the sizes of these two silver vases do not differ much from each other.
On the reverse side of the bottoms of both vases – ko and otsu – there is an engraved inscription: “Silver vase of the Todaiji Temple”, and also the date is indicated – “the fourth day of the second month of the Tenpyoshingo era”. Also, on the back of the stand there are similar inscriptions: “a stand for a silver vase from the Todaiji Temple”, and the same year, month and day are engraved. According to historical chronicles of the VIII century, on the fourth day of the second month of the third year of Tenpyoshingo Era (767), Empreror-woman Shotoku made a pilgrimage to the Todaiji Temple. Apparently, at this time, these vases were donated to the Todaiji Temple from the Imperial Palace.
The method of making vases was as follows. Silver was cast in a mold, after that various kinds of decor were applied to the outer surface of the product. For that, method of engraving stamping or embossing was used. For the latter – was used a method of striking, which resulted in an ornament, called nanako (caviar e ggs). In Japan, in the VIII century nanako ornamenting technique was already known, but on these silver jugs, a nanako ornament applied with a chisel on the entire surface of the vases shows a high level of craftsmanship. In this regard, the place of manufacture of these silver vases is highly unlikely to be Japan.
We should also pay attention to the fact that a figure of a rider turned back, pursuing a deer and shooting a bow is depicted on the silver vases. It is known both in Greek ceramics and in Gandhara sculpture.
You can learn more about the topic in the book-album "Cultural legacy of Central Asia in Japanese Museums" (volume XX) in the series "Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan in the World Collections".
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Silver vases kept in the temple
There are two silver vases of unusually large size in the treasury of the temple in Nara (Southern Repository 13, ko and otsu).