Palm Leaf Manuscript bound in Wooden Book Covers with Painted Foliate Designs
20th century
Description
This manuscript consists of palm leaf folios held between two wooden book covers and joined with a coarse, white string that runs through the drilled holes to either side of the central panel. The individual leaves are double-sided, and incised with text. The rounded script is quite similar to Sinhalese, suggesting that the manuscript may be of Sri Lankan origin. The book covers are polychromed, with yellow foliate designs set against a red field. The painting has been coated with a heavy layer of shellac or lacquer, which has darkened considerably and is semi-opaque. The surface of the covers bears a few scratches, which reveal the bright yellow and red painting underneath.
Dimensions
3.81 x 45.72 x 6.35 cm (1 1/2 x 18 x 2 1/2 in.)
Provenance
Sylvia Coolidge, purchased c. 1940s, Providence, RI; gift to the Harvard Art Museum, 2007.
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