Manuscript Item Number: B557 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Palm leaf manuscript with red wood covers and a long red cord. There is a decorative ivory rosette securing one end of the red cord fastener. The inside pages are covered in script and held in position by the threaded cord.
History Of Use
For use in a temple.
Specific Techniques
The letters would be incised into the palm leaf using a stylus made of metal or bone, then a dark pigment made from lamp-black or vegetable extracts was applied to accentuate the incisions. This method was especially popular throughout South India and Southeast Asia.
Narrative
Written in Malayalam script, with an iron stylus. Malayalam is a Brahmic script used to write Sanskrit, Prakrit, Pali, or Malayalam, a South Indian vernacular language spoken in Kerala, India.
Item History
- Made in Kerala, India before 1950
- Owned by Millicent Simcox before 1950
- Received from Millicent Simcox (Donor) during 1950
What
Who
- Culture
- Kerala
- Previous Owner
- Millicent Simcox
- Received from
- Millicent Simcox (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Kerala, India
When
- Creation Date
- before 1950
- Ownership Date
- before 1950
- Acquisition Date
- during 1950
Other
- Condition
- good
- Current Location
- Case 76