Ceylon Piha-kaetta (?)

Anandalal N. · 27th April 2009, 07:33 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, 07:38 PM

Further images

Anandalal N. · 27th April 2009, 07:40 PM

Images too large. Shall try again later.

rand · 27th April 2009, 08:30 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....

Anandalal N. · 29th April 2009, 12:24 PM

Hi Rand,

Reference to your question I can say that the interlocking figures are a prevalent featue in Ceylonese temple paintings and in combination with the other features strongly suggest Ceylonese origin for the hilt.

What follows is an extract from the paper SOME MEDIEVAL REPRESENTATIONS OF SINHALA WRESTLERS AND GLADIATORS (1937) by P E P Deraniyagala.

"Wrestling scenes are depicted either in a circle, as a square, or with the figures standing. Sinhala artists frequently employ ingenious combinations of the female figure to depict the chariot wheel, chariot, vase, palanquin, arch, swastika, flowring creeper, elephant and horse, but no such use of the combatant male figure has been recorded."

As you can see Deraniyagala uses the term "Sinhala artists" thus excluding Hindu art. As for me, my opinion is consistant with Deraniyagala's. This feature is predominantly a Sinhala motiff and I would certainly be interested in different opinions. Please remember that there was much cross fertilization in the region. The traditional names for these knots are based on the number of figures and their gender. Never have I seen these with males and females in combination in a single design.

I have added an image with four wrestlers (male) from the temple of the tooth in Kandy taken from the above paper.

The other image from the well preserved molding above the window of the Hanguranketha Temple shows a female figure with arms pronated holding creepers or floral designs similar to the knife hilt under discussion. Following Deraniyagala's suggestions, the interlocking figures in the knife under discussion could be a cart wheel with the outer circle suggesting the outer rim of the wheel and the inner hollow square suggesting the aperture intended to receive the axle head.

Regards.

rand · 29th April 2009, 01:33 PM

Anandala,

Great input.....

The quote from Deraniyagala's book is compeling evidence that this dagger is from Ceylon (Sri Lanka). \

You say the circular motif is found in Sinhalese temple painting but do not mention which religion the temple is. Is it a Hindu temple? A Buddist temple? Or is this seen in multiple religons in Sri Lanka? My guess would be its a Hindu temple because of the other figures on the daggers handle.

We seem to have come full circle on this dagger, just like the motif!!!

rand

rand · 29th April 2009, 02:09 PM

Found another book by the same author of "SOME MEDIEVAL REPRESENTATIONS OF SINHALA WRESTLERS AND GLADIATORS (1937) by P E P Deraniyagala", cept this book is titled "Sinhala Weapons and Armor". He was the director of museums in Ceylon.....

A quote from this book,"The hilt of the sword should have a pommel of lotus petals; the middle part should be decorated and possess auspicious figures as of lions,etc. A circle at the middle of a weapon is inauspicious".

This puts a most intrigueing twist as bad, ill,misfortune,unfavorable are synonems for inauspicious.

The entire book is posted at this site and is fascinating reading:
http://www.pihakaetta.com/sinhala_weapons_armor_low.pdf

rand

Anandalal N. · 29th April 2009, 02:19 PM

Hi Rand,

Temples here refers to Buddhist temples. The Hanguranketha temple and the Temple of the Tooth, Kandy are both Buddhist Temples.

Both papers by Deraniyagala are published in the Royal Asiatic Society Journals.

Best Regards.

27th April 2009, 07:33 PM	#1
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 07:53 PM.

27th April 2009, 07:38 PM	#2
Anandalal N. Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 84	Further images Attached Images

27th April 2009, 08:30 PM	#4
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

29th April 2009, 12:24 PM	#5
Anandalal N. Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 84	Hi Rand, Reference to your question I can say that the interlocking figures are a prevalent featue in Ceylonese temple paintings and in combination with the other features strongly suggest Ceylonese origin for the hilt. What follows is an extract from the paper SOME MEDIEVAL REPRESENTATIONS OF SINHALA WRESTLERS AND GLADIATORS (1937) by P E P Deraniyagala. "Wrestling scenes are depicted either in a circle, as a square, or with the figures standing. Sinhala artists frequently employ ingenious combinations of the female figure to depict the chariot wheel, chariot, vase, palanquin, arch, swastika, flowring creeper, elephant and horse, but no such use of the combatant male figure has been recorded." As you can see Deraniyagala uses the term "Sinhala artists" thus excluding Hindu art. As for me, my opinion is consistant with Deraniyagala's. This feature is predominantly a Sinhala motiff and I would certainly be interested in different opinions. Please remember that there was much cross fertilization in the region. The traditional names for these knots are based on the number of figures and their gender. Never have I seen these with males and females in combination in a single design. I have added an image with four wrestlers (male) from the temple of the tooth in Kandy taken from the above paper. The other image from the well preserved molding above the window of the Hanguranketha Temple shows a female figure with arms pronated holding creepers or floral designs similar to the knife hilt under discussion. Following Deraniyagala's suggestions, the interlocking figures in the knife under discussion could be a cart wheel with the outer circle suggesting the outer rim of the wheel and the inner hollow square suggesting the aperture intended to receive the axle head. Regards. Attached Images

29th April 2009, 02:09 PM	#7
rand Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 539	Sinhala Weapons and Armor Found another book by the same author of "SOME MEDIEVAL REPRESENTATIONS OF SINHALA WRESTLERS AND GLADIATORS (1937) by P E P Deraniyagala", cept this book is titled "Sinhala Weapons and Armor". He was the director of museums in Ceylon..... A quote from this book,"The hilt of the sword should have a pommel of lotus petals; the middle part should be decorated and possess auspicious figures as of lions,etc. A circle at the middle of a weapon is inauspicious". This puts a most intrigueing twist as bad, ill,misfortune,unfavorable are synonems for inauspicious. The entire book is posted at this site and is fascinating reading: http://www.pihakaetta.com/sinhala_weapons_armor_low.pdf rand

27th April 2009, 07:40 PM	#3
Anandalal N. Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 84	Images too large. Shall try again later.

29th April 2009, 01:33 PM	#6
rand Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 539	Anandala, Great input..... The quote from Deraniyagala's book is compeling evidence that this dagger is from Ceylon (Sri Lanka). \ You say the circular motif is found in Sinhalese temple painting but do not mention which religion the temple is. Is it a Hindu temple? A Buddist temple? Or is this seen in multiple religons in Sri Lanka? My guess would be its a Hindu temple because of the other figures on the daggers handle. We seem to have come full circle on this dagger, just like the motif!!! rand

29th April 2009, 02:19 PM	#8
Anandalal N. Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 84	Hi Rand, Temples here refers to Buddhist temples. The Hanguranketha temple and the Temple of the Tooth, Kandy are both Buddhist Temples. Both papers by Deraniyagala are published in the Royal Asiatic Society Journals. Best Regards.