Base for an offering mandala used in Tibetan Buddhist rituals, Ming dynasty, Probably Yongle reign, early 15th century. Enamels on brass, wire, traces of gilding (cloisonné). H x W x D: 7.7 x 31 x 31 cm. Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment, Freer Gallery of Art, F1998.295 © Smithsonian 

The mandala base is a cast brass circle with a horizontal top and flat-side walls. The exterior surface is covered with a design created with enamels applied in the cloisonné technique and the interior is plain, yellow metal. The shape of the base resembles a Western cake pan, but when it is used, the base is inverted so that the decorated top faces upward and the hollow cavity is underneath. It serves as a stand, or base, to hold offerings (usually grain), which are arranged to form a mandala. Two small openings appear in the side walls of the base, which is where small rings were originally attached.

The background color of the cloisonné is turquoise blue and the design consists of flowers, leaves, and Buddhist symbols in combinations of blue, yellow, red, white, and green. There is very little use of intermingled colors. The decorative pattern on the top consists of an open-faced lotus flower (composed of two concentric rings of ten petals), which appears at the center. The flower is surrounded by a scrolling lotus vine that supports eight lotus blossoms, each topped by one of the Eight Precious Buddhist symbols. A second ring of scrolling lotus vine, also with eight blossoms, encircles the first ring. Green leaves attached to the vine scrolls are interspersed throughout the design. A scrolling lotus vine similar to the outermost vine scroll on the top decorated the side walls of the mandala base.

This object draws attention to the frequent interaction and gift exchange between Tibet and China in the first half of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). This colorful cloisonne object was made for a Tibetan temple to serve as the base for a three-dimensional mandala, or cosmic diagram. Worshipers would pile grain on top of the base as a holy offering. The grain was arranged inside concentric iron rings to create a tiered tower.

The mandala base was made in China under imperial patronage as a gift for the emperor to give to visiting Tibetan lamas or prelates. The design features auspicious Buddhist symbols, including a stylized lotus flower and eight precious objects, such as a conch shell to represent the voice of Buddha and an umbrella to signify his spiritual authority.