Textile Art in the Colombo National Museum

“The pursuit of beauty shall save us all”

There are a dozen different things we could pursue.. but this one is probably the most joyous and least stressful of them all.

But as a museum walk will reveal, it can also be very exhausting.

The museum managers probably know this – which is why most museums have seating spaces to allow visitors to recuperate from the dazzling assault of beauty.

So here are some photos of the antique textiles of Sri Lanka, seen in the Colombo National Museum – a building as beautiful as the material inside. In this note, some remarkable ones have been presented individually.

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The first is a temple hanging cloth dedicated to Kataragama – the six-headed and twelve armed god seated on his vehicle – the peacock.

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The second is a Petikada – depicting the concept of a thousand Buddhas.

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The next is a set of bags, used for betel nuts and other goodies.

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The next are a set of amazing woven loin cloths – Diyakacci & Amude. After my first visit to this museum in 2015, I’d reported these on the blog but had remained hungry for more as the photos could have been better. So here are the fresh photos:

The loin cloth below is elaborately decorated textile, made for a member of royalty – with 10 verses of the Subhasitaya embroidered onto the front.

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A Palanquin cover used in temple processions:

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Ceiling & Wall hangers:

A Wall hanger with a Cashew tree (below).

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A royal Kandyan painted pillow case

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And finally some gorgeous garments that are like fine art!

These are Somana clothes that have pallus at both ends and floral+bird motifs laid out densely all over the field.

A few other textile forms that are unique to Sri Lanka:

A pillow case:

A printed handkerpchief:

A Gahoni cloth covering used in temples:

Seeing the rich gorgeous dyes in the museum pieces was a good way to train my eyes.

The feeling of elation as I sat in the verandah in that lovely building watching the rain and feeling the breeze will remain with me forever.

Even though the pursuit of beauty is exhausting, it is through this quest that we rise above all the other exhaustions of life. And that is how the pursuit of beauty will save us all!

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LINK to the Antique Sri Lankan Textiles in the Wovensouls collection.

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jaina mishra / wovensouls

June 2025

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