Enquiry about object: 6303
Unusual Sri Lankan Cast Bronze Image of a Kneeling Buddhist Devotee
Sri Lanka 19th century
height: 8.6cm, weight: 418g
Provenance
from the collection of Sir Christopher Ondaatje, UK.
This is the first time that we have encountered a kneeling devotee image from Sri Lanka.
Images of kneeling devotees that were placed before a Buddha image are more typical of Burmese art. But then traditionally, there have been close links between the Buddhist monkhood of Sri Lanka and that of Burma.
The figure is from the collection of Sir Christopher Ondaatje. Ondaatje is of Sinhalese and Dutch ancestry and was born in Sri Lanka (or Ceylon as it was known) in 1933. A businessman, writer and Olympian, he is the older brother of author Michael Ondaatje, author of The English Patient, among many works.
The figure is in fine condition with a dark, varying patina.
References
Weereratne, N., Visions of an Island: Rare works from Sri Lanka in the Christopher Ondaatje Collection, Harper Collins, 1999.
