Sri Lankan Ivories Ivory Carving was one of the traditional industries (Sinhala: ශ්රී ලංකාවේ ඇත්දත් කලාව; Tamil: இலங்கையில் தந்த சிற்பக்கலை) that existed in Sri Lanka from ancient times to the recent past. History Ivory was utilized by Sri Lankan craftsmen since the historical era of the country to produce ornaments, sculptures and other utility materials and objects. From the middle ages, when trade activities of colonial nations including the Portuguese (1597-1658), Dutch (1658-1796) and British (1796-1948) enhanced the local market of exporting elephants and tusks, ivory came to be used popularly for producing carved ornaments and utility objects of quality. Some of the Sri Lankan ivory caskets belonging to the Kotte-Portuguese Period (15-16th century A.D.) are classic examples of creative products carved with historical and religious events together with decorative motifs. Anuradhapura Period (5th century B.C.-11 century A.D.) Evidence is there to show that ivory carving technology was in Sri Lanka sin…
