Sri Lankan ivories

Ivory artifacts from Sri Lanka

An ivory Buddha statue, 18th century; Metropolitan Museum of Art. Ivory comb, 18th century; Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Ivory carving is one of the traditional industries of Sri Lanka. The country's ivory carving industry has a very long history, but its origin is not yet fully understood.[1] During the Kingdom of Kandy, ivory art became very popular and reached at its zenith. These delicate ivory works represent how Sri Lankan craftsmen mastered in this technique.

## History

[edit]

Sri Lankan ivory carving industry began in the 1st century BC.[1] King Jetthatissa of the Anuradhapura Kingdom has patronised the ivory industry.[2] Most of the surviving ivory works are attributed to Kandyan Kingdom. Sri Lankan ivory industry began during the Anuradhapura period. The oldest surviving ivory piece ever found in Sri Lanka is the image of a woman wearing a pearl girdle found from the southern vāhalkada of Ruwanweli stupa.[1] Ancient chronicle Mahavamsa mentions that King Parakramabahu the Great of Polonnaruwa had built a garden with decorative ivory railings.[3]

Due to the rarity of ivory, possessing ivory items were considered as a symbol of dignity in the past. These ivory works may have presented to kings, foreign ambassadors, and other high officials.[1]

During the period of Portuguese Ceylon, works made for export bore similarities with the Afro-Portuguese ivories.[4]

## Creation

[edit]

Ivory fan handle, 18th century AD. Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Ivory carving technique consists of two main steps: the turning and carving.[3]

During the turning, ivory is cut using a saw and shaped using a turning lathe (pattalaya). A simple wood lathe is used. Then it is softened by using various plant saps.[3] Then carving is done. Tools like saw, drill, rasp, vice, and chisel are used in this step.[1] Later the object is polished using alum. If there are any holes in the object, they are filled up with lac and decorated.[1] Ultimately natural pigments like red, yellow, and black together with minerals and adhesive compounds are used to get the end quality of the item.

Bangles, fan handles, caskets, knife hilts, combs, boxes, trumpets, earrings, door frames, decorative plates, and sports equipment were produced using ivory. Buddha statues and human figures were also produced.[3]

## Decorative elements

[edit]

There are three kinds of motifs used in Sri Lankan ivory art: animal figures, anthropomorphic figures and floral decorations.[1] Decorations like petal designs, kudirakkan,  nārilatā, bhērunda pakshiyā, makarā, kimbisi muhuna, panā decorations and dancing figures were commonly used in the Kandyan Period.

## Examples

[edit]

An image depicting a royalty, early 19th century; Metropolitan Museum of Art. The panchanāri ghataya of Ridi Viharaya, Kurunegala.

The finest example for Sri Lankan ivory carving are the ivory carvings at the door-frame of Ridi Viharaya, Kurunegala. Delicately carved panchnāri ghataya motif and two dancer images can be seen here. There is a gajasinha carving at the corridor of the temple.[3] Temple of the Tooth also houses fine ivory decorations.[1]

Many examples for ivory works from the Kandyan kingdom can be observed at Colombo National Museum and National Museum of Kandy.[1] The standing ivory Buddha in vitarka mudra displayed in the Colombo National Museum is considered a masterpiece of Sri Lankan ivory art.[5] Another ivory work, a chest belonging to the Kingdom of Kotte is housed in Munich Residenz, Germany. This chest is decorated with carvings depicting the coronation of King Dharmapala.[6]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Kumaratunge, H. W. (2002). "මධ්‍යකාලීන මහනුවර යුගයේ පාරම්පරික කලා කර්මාන්ත". චිත්‍ර කලාව (in Sinhala). S. Godage and Brothers. ISBN 9552054788.
2. ^ Ranjith Hewage (2012). "සීතාවක රාජසිංහ රජුට අයත් ඇත්දළ තරාදිය". විස්මිත අතීත උරුමයන්. Susara publishers. ISBN 9789556761658.
3. ^ a b c d e Sanath Dharmabandu (2011). "ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ කලා කර්මාන්ත". චිත්‍ර හා මූර්ති කලාව. M. D. Gunasena and Company Ltd. ISBN 978-9552115714.
4. ^ Flores, Jorge Manuel (2007). Re-exploring the Links: History and Constructed Histories Between Portugal and Sri Lanka. Otto Harrassowitz Verlag. p. 287\. ISBN 9783447054904.
5. ^ Ranjith Hewage (2012). "විතර්ක මුද්‍රාව නිරූපිත ඇත්දළින් බුදු පිළිම වහන්සේ". විස්මිත අතීත උරුමයන්. Susara publishers. ISBN 9789556761658.
6. ^ "Treasury – Picture Gallery: Chest". Bayerische Schlosserverwaltung. Retrieved 17 November 2017.

* v
* t
* e

* ← Kandyan period topics →

1592–1815

* Outline
* Bibliography
* Timeline
* Years
* Transitional period

* History

History|

| Kotte period

(1469-1592)

* Founding
* Wars of Kotte Succession
* Sitawaka occupation of Kandy (1582–1592)

|

Early Kandyan period

(1592-1707)

* Dissolution of the Sitawaka Kingdom
* Convention of Malvana
* Dutch–Portuguese War
* Mannar martyrs
* Portuguese conquest of the Jaffna kingdom
* 1615 Colombo earthquake
* Battle of Vannarapannai
* Roland Crappé's raids on Portuguese colonies
* Conquest of Koneswaram Temple
* Kandyan Treaty of 1638
* Siege of Galle (1640)
* 1664 Kandyan coup attempt
* Kandyan–Dutch war (1670–1675)
* An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon

Middle Kandyan period

(1707-1760)

* 1709 Kandyan rebellion

Late Kandyan period

(1760-1815)

* 1760 Kandyan coup attempt
* Kandyan–Dutch war (1764–1766)
* Treaty of Batticaloa
* American Revolutionary War
* Action of 12 August 1782
* Battle of Trincomalee
* Invasion of Ceylon
* Treaty of Amiens
* Kandyan Wars
* Great Rebellion of 1817–1818
* Kandyan Convention

* Kingdom of Kandy (1469–1815)

Government|

| The Royal family|

* Monarch
* House of Senasammata Vikramabahu
* House of Siri Sanga Bo
* House of Vimaladharmasuriya
* Nayaks of Kandy
* Consorts
* Randoli
* Rididoli
* Yakadadoli

|

Royal Palace and & court|

* Badde Lekams
* Diyawadana Nilame
* Basnayaka Nilame

Amātya Mandalaya|

* Maha Adigar
* Maha Mohottala
* Maha Dissava
* Dugganna Nilame
* Bandāra

Provincial|

* Disavani
* Dissava
* Rata
* Rate Mahatmaya
* Korale
* Korala
* Pattu

Judiciary|

* The Monarch
* Maha Naduwa
* Ratasabhas
* Gamsabhas

Politics|

| Domestic|

* Kandyan court politics
* Radala
* Relic of the tooth of the Buddha
* Flags

|

International|

* Foreign relations
* Cambodia
* Denmark
* France
* India
* Indonesia
* Myanmar
* Netherlands
* Portugal
* Thailand
* United Kingdom

* Missions abraod
* 1693 Arakan (Burma)
* 1696 Arakan (Burma)
* 1706 Madura
* 1739 Madura
* 1741 Siam
* 1745–7 Siam
* 1750–3 Siam
* 1799–1800 Burma

* Missions to Sri Lanka
* 1602 Dutch
* 1697 Burmese
* 1710 Dutch
* 1731–32 Dutch
* 1736 Dutch
* 1745–46 Dutch
* 1756 Siam
* 1762 British
* 1782 British
* 1795–96 British
* 1800 British

Economy|

* Larin (Koku ridi)
* Fanam (Sinhala Silver Panama)
* Rājākariya
* Maral
* Cinnamon
* Elephants
* Salt

Society|

| Culture|

* Architecture
* Kandyan roof
* Madol Kurupawa
* Sandakada pahana
* Walauwa
* Kandyan law
* Castes
* Esala Perahera
* Esala Mangallaya
* Dance
* Literature
* in Pali, in Sinhalese
* Frescoes
* Ivories
* Jewelry

|

People|

* Ehelepola Nilame
* Gajaman Nona
* Gongalegoda Banda
* Joseph Vaz
* Keppetipola Disawe
* Kromma Muen Thepphiphit
* Kuruvita Rala
* Pedro de Gascogne
* Puran Appu
* Robert Knox
* Sieur de La Nérolle
* Sir John D'Oyly, 1st Baronet, of Kandy
* Wariyapola Sri Sumangala
* Weliwita Sri Saranankara Thero

Religion|

* Buddhism
* Relic of the tooth of the Buddha
* Asgiri Maha Viharaya
* Malwathu Maha Viharaya
* Sangharaja

Landmarks|

* Temple of the Tooth
* Natha Devale
* The Kandy House
* Udawattakele Forest Reserve
* Wales Park
* Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya
* Kandy Lake
* Bogoda Wooden Bridge

* The Portuguese in Sri Lanka (1597–1658)

Administration|

* Captains
* Captain-majors
* Captain-generals

Economy|

* Maral
* Thombo
* Cinnamon
* Indian Ocean slave trade

Society|

| Culture|

* Architecture
* Portuguese buildings
* Music
* Baila music

|

Related peoples|

* Kaffirs
* Lascarins
* Mestiços
* Portuguese

Languages|

* Sri Lankan Portuguese creole
* Sinhala words of Portuguese origin

Religion|

* Catholicism

* The Dutch in Sri Lanka (1658–1796)

Administration|

* Dutch governors
* Maritime Provinces

Economy|

* Stuiver
* Ceylonese rixdollar
* Coffee
* Indian Ocean slave trade

Society|

| Culture|

* Architecture
* Dutch buildings
* Place names
* Dutch
* Music
* Kokis
* Lamprais

|

Related peoples|

* Burgher people
* Dutch
* Malays

* Joris van Spilbergen
* Sebald de Weert
* Philippus Baldaeus

Languages|

* Sri Lankan Creole Malay
* Sinhala words of Dutch origin

Religion|

* Protestantism
* Christian Reformed Church in Sri Lanka
* Lanka Reformed Church

* Category
* Portal
* WikiProject

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template