Wednesday, December 6, 2017

The 'Robinson Casket', Ivory 15th Century AD, Sri Lanka.



The 'Robinson Casket' is one of a group of at least nine solid ivory caskets made in Kotte, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), and sent by the kingdom's rulers to Portugal as diplomatic gifts, in some cases to mark specific historical or religious events. It is believed to have been made about 1557 to commemorate the King of Kotte's conversion to Christianity and the birth of a grandson and heir to the King of Portugal, hence the choice of Christian motifs and symbols of birth and rebirth that are intricately carved throughout the casket. The piece is among the earliest examples of Ceylonese art made for western consumption, and it illustrates beautifully how local craftsmen interpreted European forms and motifs and married them to their own decorative traditions. The casket is named after Sir John Charles Robinson, Superintendent of Art Collections for the South Kensington Museum (renamed the V&A in 1899), who acquired it in Lisbon before 1888.
Please click on web-link below :-
http://collections.vam.ac.uk/…/the-robinson-casket-casket-…/

Tuesday, December 5, 2017

Ivory combs, Sri Lanka, 15th Century AD.



Combs, made of wood,coconut shell, metal, tortoise shell and ivory were in standard use long before the advent of plastics. Ivory combs made in Sri Lanka, were exported from Sri Lanka by the Portuguese and ended up in the houses of royalty in Europe. Here is an example of one of them.
Ivory Comb, Kotte period, 1412–1597, Sri Lanka
Please click on the web-link below:-

Monday, December 4, 2017

Child's walking trainer, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.




"Nadai vandil' - 'Child's walking trainer' - a wooden toy popular in the 1940s in Jaffna. This was given to a toddler starting to walk. This was ideal when used on sandy soil. If used on hard concrete or a tiled floor there was no breaking action. I got this specially made for my Grand-children.

Sunday, December 3, 2017

Haputhale road, Sri Lanka.







 

Old Haputhale road and present highway.
Listen to the old song a carter is singing to his bullocks, dragging his loaded cart, up the Haputhale Hill climb.

Bara Bage / C.T. Fernando
Click on the web-link below with your speakers on:-