The Sinhalese Kastane: Its Development, Decoration and Symbolism

[Jim McDougall]

It is excellent that this thread is moving along so well, and I especially appreciate the constructive and well observed contributions by Prasanna, Fernando and Ibrahiim. It is most helpful that along with Prasanna's well established experience in this fascinating history are the researched entries by Fernando and Ibrahiim which has enabled some great questions and perspective.

I am inclined to agree with Fernando in thinking that this late 16th century frieze was probably fashioned by a Portuguese artist there in Ceylon.
It is important to note that artists have always been inclined to a degree of latitude in 'spinning' their works toward the perception intended for their theme. I think in this case the Portuguese soldier is well depicted as is the arming sword he is wielding. With this in mind, it would seem that the sword of the Sinhalese chief would be equally accurate in its depiction, and with that I believe that the blade does remarkably correspond to heavy, single edged straight falchion type forms, indeed as seen on some storta.

In reviewing Deraniyagala, there is mention of early Sinhalese swords notably including a single edged form along with contemporary double edged forms. It is noted that these single edged forms apparently had a truncated tip recalling those of Japanese swords. I do not mention this to allude to any connection to Japanese swords, and the comment is as a point of comparison noting the attention to the blade tip. In these heavy, storta/falchion type blades there is considerable attention to a protracted radius to afford better slashing potential.

It is also noted in Deraniyagala that the kasthana which developed as a ceremonial sword of rank did differ from the less embellished combat types of course. As we have discussed, the quillons found in the more familiar guard system seen on kasthana are vestigial elements which were not in place for swordsmanship or combat purposes, so it would seem understandable that a combat version as seen here may likely have been without them. More interesting is the presence of what indeed appears a zoomorphic head on the pommel, and the suggestion that such iconic presence could be placed in the period when this frieze was carved.

Concerning the reference to the weapon termed calachurro, in going through one reference which I believe has been mentioned ('Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society' #46, 1895-1896) the author states that in the Kandyan region there is no such term, but it is unclear whether the reference might allude to another weapon. In Knox's Sinhalese vocabulary it is noted that they did carry a small, short sabre with slight curve.

In analyzing contemporary narratives or later recounting of them, there is perhaps even more danger or 'fantasy' involved in interpretation than in the visual reading of artwork. This is of course due to semantics and local parlances and colloquial use for various descriptive terms.

Such are the conundrums and issues we typically encounter as we use the resources and material at hand to investigate evidence and clues using them to formulate ideas and observations. Though sometimes seeming somewhat fanciful or 'fantastic' , these are always pertinent and valid in varying degree, and here we consider it constructive research, which indeed well describes the texture of our thread.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Now heres a funny thing ! From http://www.huntspost.co.uk/news/late...useum_1_896806

Quote "Historians think the handles, part of a new exhibition on the battle of Naseby at Cromwell Museum, were found at the battlefield in Northamptonshire, where Oliver Cromwell’s forces defeated the Royalists in 1645.

The owner of the swords and their presence at the battle remains a mystery, but the handles were mounted as a carving knife and fork set in the 19th century.

Curator John Goldsmith said: “We can only suggest that one of the handles was lost on the field at Naseby, and then re-used for the carving set. But who was the owner on that violent day in 1645? We may never know. Please come along and find out more about this important battle that happened on Huntingdon’s doorstep and form your own theories.”

INFORMATION: The Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 4pm. Admission is free".Unquote

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Could these have been court swords\ worn on the Armour similar to the Popham?

Ibrahiim al Balooshi ~

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

[spiral]

Well often people who believe curators blindly are nearly as daft as those who believe arms dealers {or anyone else who works in sales, or has a vested interest that increases there personal wealth... secondhand car dealers, electrical goods salesmen etc.etc.}....{ Of course excluding & Excepting all respected members of this forum of course... }


Here's a early & "rare antique Gurkha kukri" in a secure museum area, gifted to them by police who had seized it...

Strange really it looks like 70s or 80s export crap to me...

But oddest of all is really, how scary & horror B movieish curators & police look together...

spiral

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Salaams... Indeed Museums do come in for a certain degree of poked fun.. however, such is the rarity of Kastane turning up early in UK circles that perhaps these are vintage Cromwellian, and though this tiny museum is on the fringe ... It does claim to be the Oliver Cromwell Museum... and artefacts in it appear to be from that period. If anyone is in the area... a quick visit may be suggested... apparently it is so small a half hour is sufficient to absorb the content. It would be interesting to discover the facts about these two Kastane... most peculiar ! It may be about to close... maybe they will sell the objects cheap...

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by spiral

... But oddest of all is really, how scary & horror B movieish curators & police look together... ...

Scary?
We sure have different perspectives, Jonathan; they look pathetic to me .

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Salaams all... Well that was an interesting interlude. Shall we bring the guns to bare on the main target ?... The Kastane .. I have tried in vain to raise the Cromwellian Museum but the curator was last seen carrying a huge bundle of swords in the direction of the local souk..."Any Old Iron" !! was his call...
I consider decorative Kastane style here and bring another item of beautiful hand carved Ivory as a sample of excellent artesan production..
Here is an Ivory Sri Lankan box... hand carved in identical fashion to the swirls of the Makara tail often incorporated into Kastana hilts...

The one with the Iconic Zoomorphic style is described as ~

Such cabinets were produced in Ceylon (present day Sri Lanka) off the western coast of India on commission from Portuguese traders for the European market by the mid 16th century.

The shape and function are European, but the subject and style of the elaborate carving, including perforation of the ivory plaques that make it up, are characteristic of Ceylon.

The plaques of ivory are carved in low relief, backed by sheets of tortoise shell and with silver fittings (corner pieces, rivets, key plates, original key and handles).

On the front, the upper drawer is decorated with confronted lions spewing scrolls enclosed in borders of quatrefoils and beading; the lower two drawers have key plates and scrolling, with identical borders.

On the sides are square central panels with winged leonine fantastic creatures with reptilian scaled tails (serapendiyas) enclosed in borders surrouned by scrolling and framed with borders.

On the top are two confronted leonine creatures, similar to those on the sides, enclosed in beaded ovals and scrollwork, further enclosed in a border with outer scrolling and border.

On the back is an oblong field with fragment of leonine creature enclosed in beaded frame with elaborate scrolling and border.

The underside is composed of plain ivory.

There is also a small section of border in the upper drawer.

So as not to be out done by the Cromwellian Museum I also sourced a carving set with Lionesque Sri Lankan Icons for hilts...Maybe the hilts shown earlier were previously swords on 'Armour Cromwellian' after all !

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Salaams all...

In observing further Kastane decorative style and refering to http://www.craftrevival.org/Extralin...ageCode=P00014 as a guide... perhaps the most relevant source of inspiration on design flows from the Piha Kheata form (both ways?) ...The two seem inextricably linked.

Images from http://members.tripod.com/~images_of_ceylon/arms.html
and http://www.caravanacollection.com/project/kastane-sword

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[spiral]

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

So as not to be out done by the Cromwellian Museum I also sourced a carving set with Lionesque Sri Lankan Icons for hilts...Maybe the hilts shown earlier were previously swords on 'Armour Cromwellian' after all !


Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

I don't believe there Sri Lankan? Any evidence?

Spiral

[Prasanna Weerakkody]

one of the images included by Ibrahiim in the collection of Ivory caskets is of particular interest and relevance in a different way to the topic in question- I quote from - “A catalogue of Antiquities and other cultural objects from Sri Lanka (Ceylon) Abroad” - De Silva P.H.D.H.- Ivory casket no 1241 presently at Schatzkammer Der Residenz, Munich.

“In 1506 the Portuguese occupied Ceylon (“Sinhala Dvipa”) ; the island was then ruled by several kings, dominated by an Emperor. According to W. Sloman, Emperor Buwaneka Bahu (1521-51) did not want his brother Mayadunne but his grandson Dharmapala to become his successor. To receive the support of his fief master, the Portuguese King, for this plan, Buwaneka bahu sent in 1542 a delegation to Lisbon. There exists two descriptions about the delegation… According to one report (appr 1630) The delegate delivered two ivory statues, representing the emperor and the prince proposed for the succession to the throne; according to the other report (appr. 1687) the gifts presented to the Portuguese court consisted of a crown set with gems and a statue of massive gold representing Dharmapala (then about three years old) in natural height. after the fief -oath in effigy had been taken on behalf of this prince, Don Juan III of Portugal crowned the statue as a sign of acknowledgement of the succession to the throne”

The Ivory casket illustrates the events in detail from the coronation of King Buwaneka bahu to birth of the prince Dharmapala (Dom Juan) to the bringing of the effigy of the prince to Portugal and the crowning of the statue by King of Portugal.

The importance of this casket to the forum is in the depiction of many Sinhala arms including swords in a datable context at the time of the Portuguese wars and also coinciding or slightly predating with the time of the advent of the Kasthana as we know currently. yet no Kasthana swords can be observed in the collection depicted. even the royal sword used by King Buwanekabahu in his coronation seem to be a double edged blade of the common gladius type weapon of the time but longer. But it must be noted that the earliest specifically datable Kasthana swords are linked to the Mulleriyawela battle in 1559.

The images are of poor quality- may I make a general appeal if any forum member in that part of the world is able to get access to the specimen that we may be able to get some better photographs of the Item.

regards

prasanna

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by spiral

I don't believe there Sri Lankan? Any evidence?

Spiral

Salaams Spiral ~ Do you mean ...is there evidence that the two Horn? hilts in the Cromwellian Museum made into carvers are real... Im certain they are...but I dont know if they were at the Royalist Battle...On the other hand do you mean the two Ivory Lionesque Icons made into carvers ... I suspect they are and part of the trade in Ivory items imported into Europe by the Portuguese.

If, however, you have any evidence to prove that they (in either case) are not, please go ahead and outline the details.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[spiral]

Originally Posted by fernando

Scary?
We sure have different perspectives, Jonathan; they look pathetic to me .

Fair enough Fernando! You brave hero!

I can just imagine booking into a rural hotel, on a stormy night that these 3 run, but I guess you haven't seen the old English hammer house of horror b movies..

No real loss.

But of course it may just be your brave Mediterranean machismo that would deal with the potential Perverted cannibal zombie vampires without even a slight hastening of the heart beat.



spiral