AN ANGLO-INDIAN EBONY BUDDHIST 'MOONSTONE' CONSOLE TABLE

AN ANGLO-INDIAN EBONY BUDDHIST 'MOONSTONE' CONSOLE TABLE

CEYLON, MID-19TH CENTURY

of demi-lune form, with a central stupa flanked by dolphin heads issuing waves, above carved concentric bands of flames in the outer ring, a band of elephants, bulls, horses and lions, foliage, swans and further foliage including the lotus, the apron of Buddha surrounded by foliage, on inverted, square section baluster legs with carved, foliate decoration

124.5cm high, 134cm wide, 69cm deep

Catalogue note

'Moonstone', an approximate English translation of Sandakada Pahana, is characteristic of Sri Lankan architecture and is usually found before doorways and at the bottom of flights of steps. It is believed to symbolise the cycle of Samsara in Buddhism and is first found in architecture of the Anuradhapura Kingdom (377BC - 1014AD).