Artwork Page for Leaf from a Buddhist Manuscript (verso)

Details / Information for Leaf from a Buddhist Manuscript (verso)

Leaf from a Buddhist Manuscript (verso)

c. 1700

Sri Lanka, Singhalese, Late 17th century

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Medium
fiber paper
Measurements
Overall: 6.4 cm (2 1/2 in.)
Credit Line
Educational Purchase Fund 1949.227.72.b
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
Print

Description

Palm leaf material is still used for manuscripts in Sri Lanka. The palm leaves are prepared first by boiling them, drying them in the sun, and then rubbing them with oils. Scribes then use a metal stylus to incise the text. Then charcoal powder is wiped across the pages, filling in only the inscribed lines.
A horizontally oriented fiber paper manuscript leaf is inscribed with densely packed rows of dark, flowing script across its pale tan surface. Two circular holes, one toward our left and another toward our right, are punched through the rectangular leaf and encircled by rings of faded red pigment. Tiny red markings are scattered within the text, and the edges of the paper appear slightly darkened and worn.

Leaf from a Buddhist Manuscript (verso)

c. 1700

Sri Lanka, Singhalese, Late 17th century

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