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Three Exceptional Sinhalese Palm Leaf Books and Covers
Sri Lanka
dated 1881 & 1882
length: 43 cm, width: 5.8 cm, height: 6 cm
These three remarkably well-preserved fine Sinhalese manuscripts each comprise approximately 110 leaves and a pair of covers.
Each page is of trimmed palm leaf with inked edges and eight fine lines of densely Sinhalese script that has been etched first and
then rubbed with black ink, thereby highlighting it. The covers, with bevelled outer edges are finely painted with lotus petal borders
and floral and scrolling foliage designs in green, orange and yellow polychrome. One is dated 1881, another 1882, and the third
from around the same period is undated. Each is bound with natural fibre string.
Traditional Sinhalese manuscripts such as these were prepared on the specially trimmed and treated leaves of the Talipot palm
(Corypa umbraculifera). The rounded forms of the Sinhalese script were incised into the folios with a metal stylus and the surface
rubbed with an ink compound to highlight the letters.
The British Museum has on display a similar though less-well preserved example (cat. no. OA 1989.10-11.17).
Inventory no.: 219
This Item is available - Ask about this item
Three Exceptional Sinhalese Palm Leaf Books and Covers
Sri Lanka
dated 1881 & 1882
length: 43 cm, width: 5.8 cm, height: 6 cm
These three remarkably well-preserved fine Sinhalese manuscripts each comprise approximately 110 leaves and a pair of covers.
Each page is of trimmed palm leaf with inked edges and eight fine lines of densely Sinhalese script that has been etched first and
then rubbed with black ink, thereby highlighting it. The covers, with bevelled outer edges are finely painted with lotus petal borders
and floral and scrolling foliage designs in green, orange and yellow polychrome. One is dated 1881, another 1882, and the third
from around the same period is undated. Each is bound with natural fibre string.
Traditional Sinhalese manuscripts such as these were prepared on the specially trimmed and treated leaves of the Talipot palm
(Corypa umbraculifera). The rounded forms of the Sinhalese script were incised into the folios with a metal stylus and the surface
rubbed with an ink compound to highlight the letters.
The British Museum has on display a similar though less-well preserved example (cat. no. OA 1989.10-11.17).
Inventory no.: 219
This Item is available - Ask about this item
