Permanent collection
Gem-Studded Carved Ivory Casket
- Year
- 1543
- Medium
- Ivory, gold, ruby, sapphire and rock crystal
- Dimensions
- 12.5 × 18.5 × 10.8 cm
- Accession
- LAD 2024.012
- Status
- On display
Made by the royal court workshop of the Kingdom of Kotte in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) around 1543, this carved ivory casket set with gold, rubies, sapphires and rock crystal is a masterpiece of Sri Lankan luxury craftsmanship. Such caskets served as diplomatic gifts in exchanges between the Kotte court and Portuguese envoys, embodying the precious materials and artistic dialogues carried along Indian Ocean trade routes. Louvre Abu Dhabi collection.