Offering bowl, Maharashtra Province, India, Brass, circa 16th/17th century. 4" (10 cm) high. This rare Shaivite sacred bowl is adorned with five representations of the dreadlocked Hindu god, Shiva. Alternating the faces are attribute objects of Shiva: crescent moon, sun, trident, scythe,and grasping tool. Encircling the rim are five Nandi (Shiva's bull) sitting in front of a lingam shrine. Jungli brass objects of India were "wild" objects cast by non-professionals because professional sculptors were few.