Knife and sheath piha kaetta, Sri Lanka, 18th or 19th century

Purchased from Ralph Nevill, Esq., 89 Chancery Lane

As originally arranged and displayed in Exhibition Road Indian Museum galleries until 1955, with some additions while in storage, case F.696

260 objects from the collection of Hugh L Nevill (1847-1897) were purchased from his brother Ralph Nevill Esq for £75 in 1897. Hugh Nevill was a British civil servant who served in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) between 1869 and 1888. During his service, he developed an interest in Sri Lankan culture and history assembled a diverse collection of Sri Lankan items including palm leaf manuscripts (now in the British Library), jewellery, bronzes and stones from c. 1865 to 1897. Upon his death, his collection of mainly religious material, ethnographic objects and art metalwork was purchased through his brother by various museums. Sixty items were purchased by the Dublin Museum of Science and Art (National Museum of Ireland), 207 by the Edinburgh Museum of Science and Art (National Museum of Scotland) and 260 by the South Kensington Museum.

This acquisition information reflects that found in the Museum records (Asia Department registers and/or Central Inventory) as part of a 2023 provenance research project.

RP: 45151/97

The pihiya or piha kaetta was a hand knife of often delicate workmanship from Southern India and Sri Lanka. It was commonly carried in an ornate scabbard as a personal accessory and sometimes also included a stylus for writing on palm leaf. The degree of decoration often signified the rank or status of the individual and ornate knives were presented to individuals as tokens of esteem.

IS.168&A-1897