Sri Lankan Silver Box

Fine Chased Silver Box

Kandy, Sri Lanka

late 19th century

length: 18cm, width: 9cm, height: 6.5cm, weight: 485g

Of high-grade silver, this box is a fine example of Kandy silver chasing work prevalent in the nineteenth century. Caskets of this type appealed to colonialists and their wives, but principally they were made for Kandyan aristocratic families.

The casket stands on four spherical feet. The lid is hinged and fits tightly. The casket is in the form of a rectangular plump pillow with curved ends. It is very finely chased on all sides with typically Kandyan scrolling foliage and flowers within floral borders. The most prominent floral form used amongst the foliage is the katiri mala flower.

The base is finely engraved with interlocking floral and foliage motifs within lotus petal borders, and is itself a fine example of Kandyan silversmithing.

The casket is in fine condition. There are no repairs, dents or splits.

References

Coomaraswamy, A.K., Mediaeval Sinhalese Art, Pantheon Books, 1956 reprint of the 1908 edition.

Provenance:

UK art market

Inventory no.: 3138

SOLD