Sri Lankan Arm Rest or Short Prop

Object Description

A Rare Sri Lankan Arm Rest or Short Prop used to take the Weight of the Body at the Elbow by Mystics in Meditation by Scribes and Holy Men when Reading and Decorating Manuscripts or by Princely Rulers Holding Court
Carved with two stylised mythical rearing lions upon a turned ivory shaft
Late 17th Century

Size: 45.5cm high, 17.5cm wide, 2.5cm deep – 18 ins high, 7 ins wide, 1 ins wide

Object History

cf: ‘The Indian Heritage: Court Life Under Mughul Rule’ Robert Skelton; et al, V&A 1982 pg. 118-119. no 359 for an example of a Mughul Jade Short Prop

Object Literature

Short crutch-like arm rests were known in Mughul India as ‘Zafar Takieh’ meaning ‘cushions of victory’, and sometimes concealed a short blade or dagger in the stem for use as self protection. These props enabled the comfortable maintenance of the seated position on carpets for long periods of time. Whether reading, meditating, discoursing or holding court, a prop was needed to avoid great discomfort.
Symbolising royal authority, mythical lions are portrayed in the south of India and Sri Lanka as ferocious animals with open mouths displaying sharp threatening fangs and a curling upturned snout. The lion has always had an iconic status in the Indian sub-continent. The Buddha’s first sermon was called ‘Simhanada’, ‘the lion’s roar’ and in Hindu mythology the King sat on the ‘Singhasan’ the ‘lion’s seat’. In fact ‘Singh’ meaning ‘lion’ has been a common middle name among Hindu’s, as well as Sikhs, since the 7th century AD.

Object Details