Ceylon Piha-kaetta (?)

ariel · 26th April 2009, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freebooter

Bill,

You don't look so scary in your avatar anymore

, the mask come off or is this a new mask you put on?

Gav

That's his inner child

Bill M · 26th April 2009, 02:12 PM

He is my inner King Charles Spaniel, Chumley.

He and Tucker came to the Imperial Auction. They bid on a few items, but the pieces went too high. Imagine the pieces in "Dog Dollars." A $1,000 piece is D-D$7,000 to Chumley!

Right now, Chumley is checking out the Piha Kaetta Rand posted. "Whoa, that is a lot of D-GBP!"

But he does like the auction house name: "Bone-Hams!"

Chumley wants further discussion on the Piha Kaetta.

rand · 27th April 2009, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Marsh

He is my inner King Charles Spaniel, Chumley.

He and Tucker came to the Imperial Auction. They bid on a few items, but the pieces went too high. Imagine the pieces in "Dog Dollars." A $1,000 piece is D-D$7,000 to Chumley!

Right now, Chumley is checking out the Piha Kaetta Rand posted. "Whoa, that is a lot of D-GBP!"

But he does like the auction house name: "Bone-Hams!"

Chumley wants further discussion on the Piha Kaetta.

Its apparent that Cumley is a dog of "Bone-ified" good taste, we should gnaw on this one a while.....

rand

Anandalal N. · 27th April 2009, 08:33 PM

Hi Rand and others,

I have been following this post but been too busy to give it the attention it deserved.

The description does say that it is a Ceylonese Piha-Kaetta Hilt and not a full knife of this type. The blade form would be rare for Ceylonese knives though I have seen two; one with an ivory hilt. However, the blade does not conform to Piha-Kaetta or the Kandyan knife forms. [The term Piha-Kaetta is incorrect and meaningless in the vernacular but am not using it in the vernacular sense]

The hilt is extremely interesting. A closer examination makes it clear why the Ceylonese appellation was given. The hilt design shows an interlocking knot consisting of four figures between two forward facing female figures.

I have attached two sketches of the female figures from the hilt under discussion to make it easy to discuss. Please note ....very rough sketches.

However, see the attached images from the Hanguranaketha Palace or what remains of it from the book 'Diyathilaka Nuwara' written in Sinhalese. The palace was destroyed thrice and the last time in the early 19th century.

The next three are from the large pommel of a knife made of bone? with a backward facing female figure.

Both females in the sketches from the knife under discussion are in frontal view, bare breasted, arms pronated, with elaborate head-dress and are similar to the Hanguranketha examples and the knife pommel illustrated.

In between the female figures of the knife under question is a knot formed out of four figures. This is a regular feature in Ceylonese art. More common with female figures but also with male figures this knot involves multiple interlocking figures. Again I have attached a knot of seven human fgures this time in a circular motif from the book 'Sinhala Desika Wishwakoshaya'.

Surrounding these figures are the floral or wave forms that we are familiar with in the so called piha-kaetta hilt.

Hence, though unusual, the hilt shows Ceylonese origin with of course European influnce in the Cherub. Whether it can be called Piha-Kaetta ... the term is so confused that I shall not attempt to answer that one.

Hope this information is useful and of interest.

Best Regards.

Anandalal N. · 27th April 2009, 08:38 PM

Further images

Anandalal N. · 27th April 2009, 08:40 PM

Images too large. Shall try again later.

rand · 27th April 2009, 09:30 PM

Anadala,

Great posting, could you clear up a question about the following sentence?

"In between the female figures of the knife under question is a knot formed out of four figures. This is a regular feature in Ceylonese art. More common with female figures but also with male figures this knot involves multiple interlocking figures. Again I have attached a knot of seven human fgures this time in a circular motif from the book 'Sinhala Desika Wishwakoshaya'. "

Are you saying that this circular motif is:

A) A Ceylonese motif only

B) A Hindu motif only used in Ceylon

C) A Ceylonese motif used by Hindus only in Ceylon

D) Something else......

Have attached photo of circular motif....

27th April 2009, 08:33 PM	#4
Anandalal N. Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 84	Hi Rand and others, I have been following this post but been too busy to give it the attention it deserved. The description does say that it is a Ceylonese Piha-Kaetta Hilt and not a full knife of this type. The blade form would be rare for Ceylonese knives though I have seen two; one with an ivory hilt. However, the blade does not conform to Piha-Kaetta or the Kandyan knife forms. [The term Piha-Kaetta is incorrect and meaningless in the vernacular but am not using it in the vernacular sense] The hilt is extremely interesting. A closer examination makes it clear why the Ceylonese appellation was given. The hilt design shows an interlocking knot consisting of four figures between two forward facing female figures. I have attached two sketches of the female figures from the hilt under discussion to make it easy to discuss. Please note ....very rough sketches. However, see the attached images from the Hanguranaketha Palace or what remains of it from the book 'Diyathilaka Nuwara' written in Sinhalese. The palace was destroyed thrice and the last time in the early 19th century. The next three are from the large pommel of a knife made of bone? with a backward facing female figure. Both females in the sketches from the knife under discussion are in frontal view, bare breasted, arms pronated, with elaborate head-dress and are similar to the Hanguranketha examples and the knife pommel illustrated. In between the female figures of the knife under question is a knot formed out of four figures. This is a regular feature in Ceylonese art. More common with female figures but also with male figures this knot involves multiple interlocking figures. Again I have attached a knot of seven human fgures this time in a circular motif from the book 'Sinhala Desika Wishwakoshaya'. Surrounding these figures are the floral or wave forms that we are familiar with in the so called piha-kaetta hilt. Hence, though unusual, the hilt shows Ceylonese origin with of course European influnce in the Cherub. Whether it can be called Piha-Kaetta ... the term is so confused that I shall not attempt to answer that one. Hope this information is useful and of interest. Best Regards. Attached Images Last edited by Anandalal N.; 27th April 2009 at 08:53 PM.

27th April 2009, 08:38 PM	#5
Anandalal N. Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 84	Further images Attached Images

27th April 2009, 09:30 PM	#7
rand Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 539	Anadala, Great posting, could you clear up a question about the following sentence? "In between the female figures of the knife under question is a knot formed out of four figures. This is a regular feature in Ceylonese art. More common with female figures but also with male figures this knot involves multiple interlocking figures. Again I have attached a knot of seven human fgures this time in a circular motif from the book 'Sinhala Desika Wishwakoshaya'. " Are you saying that this circular motif is: A) A Ceylonese motif only B) A Hindu motif only used in Ceylon C) A Ceylonese motif used by Hindus only in Ceylon D) Something else...... Have attached photo of circular motif.... Attached Images

26th April 2009, 02:12 PM	#2
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	He is my inner King Charles Spaniel, Chumley. He and Tucker came to the Imperial Auction. They bid on a few items, but the pieces went too high. Imagine the pieces in "Dog Dollars." A $1,000 piece is D-D$7,000 to Chumley! Right now, Chumley is checking out the Piha Kaetta Rand posted. "Whoa, that is a lot of D-GBP!" But he does like the auction house name: "Bone-Hams!" Chumley wants further discussion on the Piha Kaetta.

27th April 2009, 08:40 PM	#6
Anandalal N. Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 84	Images too large. Shall try again later.