Article cover
Essay

›Beziehungskästchen‹. Die Übersetzung europäischer Bildvorlagen am singhalesischen Elfenbeinkästchen des Berliner Museums für Asiatische Kunst

Alberto Saviello

Published online:

01 Oct 2018

Abstract

Abstract

The article discusses the use of images from two Parisian books of hours on a Sinhalese ivory casket of the sixteenth century, which today is kept at the Museum für Asiatische Kunst in Berlin. Comparing the Berlin casket to a group of similar Sinhalese ivory boxes, the article argues for its being a gift of the declining Sinhalese dynasty of Kōṭṭe that was made for the Portuguese house of Aviz. Furthermore, the analysis of the alterations and recombination of the European models in this context allows a better understanding of the box as a product of cross-cultural negotiation. Merging both European and Sinhalese artistic traditions, the casket presents a creative expression of a Sinhalese-Christian identity that, while being in the process of forming itself, also addresses the contradictions between missionary promises of salvation and colonial violence.

Other articles in this issue:

Zeitschrift für Kunstgeschichte Issues

Volume 87 (2024)
Volume 86 (2023)
Volume 85 (2022)
Volume 84 (2021)
Volume 83 (2020)
Volume 82 (2019)
Volume 81 (2018)
Volume 80 (2017)
Volume 79 (2016)

Get instant, unlimited access to this journal

Related titles

Would you like to receive monthly information about new publications and events?

DKV
EUR
English

Deutscher Kunstverlag

Genthiner Straße 13

10785 Berlin

+49 (0)30 / 27 90 76 - 0

Neumarkter Straße 28

81673 München