Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c33: Appendix I. The Kandy Art Association
Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c33
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Appendix I. The Kandy Art Association
c33.1
During the Agency of Sir John F. Dickson in 1882 an Association of those interested in ancient art work was formed, and supported with the income derived from the annual subscriptions of the members of the Association. The services of the best workmen in silver, brass, and pottery were employed in making articles of Kandyan art and workmanship. The Assistant Government Agent of the Kaccheri, subsequently Mr. H. Nevill, when Fiscal C.O., undertook the supervision of the workmen, and as the object of the Association became more widely known, orders were placed with him, and he arranged for them to be carried out by the workmen in Kandy and Mātale districts.
c33.2
The work connected with the receipt of orders became entirely centred at the Kacceri, and was conducted by the successive occupants of the office of Assistant Government Agent, under general supervision of the Hon. the Government Agent.
c33.3
The first home of the Association was in the rooms below the United Service Library, but eventually a room was set apart at the downstairs of the Kacceri for the custody of the articles made, and where parties could purchase and inspect them.
c33.4
In 1893, the Association then known as the Kandyan Art Society being less prosperous, application was made to Government for a loan of Rs. 2,000 to enable the Society to get together a collection of Kandyan art work; the grant of that amount was sanctioned by the Governor, Sir A. E. Havelock. The whole amount of the advance has been repaid.
c33.5
The necessity of having a place more suitable for the custody of these collections and the sale of work was much felt, and there appeared to be no building more suitable for the purpose than the building known as Palle Vahala which for many years in occupation of the Fiscal C.O., was handed over for use in the future as a Museum and home for Kandyan art.