λ A SINHALESE CARVED EBONY LIDDED BOX WITH IVORY-INLAID FLOWER VASE DECORATION
Galle District, Southern Sri Lanka, 19th century

Of rectangular shape, finely carved from solid ebony, the exterior worked in high relief with lush foliage and dense lotus flower scrolls on all sides, the lid with later-added Western brass hinges and lock plate, the interior of the lid inlaid with a circular medallion infilled with a flowering vase motif with pomegranates and carnations rendered in stained and painted ivory, framed by a geometric fretwork border.

32cm x 12.5cm x 14cm

This type of box is characteristic of Galle work, a distinguished form of Sinhalese craftsmanship from the southern coastal region of Sri Lanka (then Ceylon), prized in the 19th century by British colonial patrons for its refined ebony carving and intricate ivory inlay. The florals and stylised vase draw from both indigenous decorative vocabulary and European export influences.

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