A SINHALA PALM-LEAF BUDDHIST MANUSCRIPT WITH LACQUERED BOOK COVERS
Kandy, Sri Lanka, ca. 1840 - 1860

Sinhala manuscript on dried palm leaves, containing non-illustrated religious discourses of the Buddhist doctrine transcribed from Pali, the text present on both recto and verso, two binding holes per each leaf, bound between two lacquered wooden boards painted in bright red, ochre yellow, green and black, the front of the covers with a dense vegetal grid of foliate sprays surrounded by an outer frieze of flower petals or palmette leaves, the reverse with figural illustrations of various Buddhas and devotees alternating with lush vegetation, in particular one figure depicting a reclined Buddha sleeping, a typical image usually associated with the state known as parinirvana (Sanskrit: parinirvāṇa; Pali: parinibbāna) describing the passing away of the Buddha and his entry into a state of ultimate liberation from the cycle of rebirth (samsara).

16.5cm x 62.5cm x 6cm including the wooden binding

In Kandy, one of the main temples, the Tooth Temple, holds an entire library dedicated to Buddhist doctrine and rituals. Most of the library's manuscripts are made of dried palm leaves and their lacquered wooden boards painted in the chromatic palette trio of red, yellow and green feature analogous design and decorative motifs to the present lot. Another similar Sri Lankan Buddhist palm-leaf manuscript recently sold at Chiswick Auctions, 29 October 2022, lot 293.