A large 17th Century Sri Lankan ivory hilt.
This superb example of Sri Lankan ivory carving shows a splendid example of 17th C.
Carving of this region. This particular hilt is characterized by a stylized lion with a near rounded head, and reduced neck with open jaws showing uncompromising canine teeth.
The lion mane is designed in stylized boteh shaped curls merging into the heavily carved floral handle of the hilt. The flowers are of chrysenthemums and dahlias, two indiginous flowers in Sri Lanka depicted in frintal and side views. This ivory hilt is drilled through to hold the metal blade and would have probably ended with an ornamental globular top end.
This superb piece has been published in Robert Hales book: “Oriental Arms and Armour” and is also very similar to another 17th C. carved ivory hilt exhibited in the British Museum (# 1880-1565).