559 Rare Indian Manuscript Sanskrit Palm Leaf – Boeeta Bandaan – Important for Textile Lovers

This rare palm leaf manuscript from Odisha, India contains a text narration of the folk legend “Boeeta Bandaan” that is accompanied by skillful drawings.

The folk legend speaks of the story of a girl whose 7 brothers had gone on a trade journey to Java, Sumatra  Borneo and is ill-treated by her sisters-in-laws.

While the legend is about human drama it also offers a glimpse of the sea trade between India and Indonesia centuries ago.

This sea trade acted as the conduit for the migration of the Ikat weaving skills and aesthetics between the two regions, making it an important document for students of textile art history

The legend is centuries old but the age of this article is unknown.

Similar manuscripts with other subjects displayed in the State Museum at Bhubaneshwar.

Flash has been used while taking photos to enhance the clarity of the miniature texts.

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This item has spent a lifetime being used for the purpose of its creation with the original artist/user.

It is very likely that signs of this life are present on the piece in the form of stains, thread loss, loose threads, holes, tears, color run and other imperfections.

Therefore the condition must be assumed to be “not” perfect

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This item has spent a lifetime being used for the purpose of its creation with the original artist/user. Signs of this life lived heartily may be present on the piece in the form of stains, thread loss, loose threads, holes, tears, color run and other imperfections. Therefore the condition must be assumed to be “not” perfect. More photos of such imperfections will be provided on request.

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