Buddha, 18th century — *Buddha*, 18th century. Ivory with traces of pigment. Norton Simon Museum, Gift of Michael Phillips and Juliana Maio.1 / 5

Covers of a Manuscript, c. 1800 — *Buddha*, 18th century. Ivory with traces of pigment. Norton Simon Museum, Gift of Michael Phillips and Juliana Maio.1 / 5

The Art of Kandy: Sri Lanka’s Last Kingdom (1469–1815)

Sep 4, 2026 – Feb 8, 2027 Pasadena

Thirteen small works in ivory, silver and bronze from the Norton Simon collection, made in Sri Lanka’s last royal capital.

Kandy, founded in 1469, stayed independent until Britain annexed it in 1815. Its artisans worked under royal patronage, mixing local forms with South Indian design and Buddhist and Hindu imagery, shaped by marriages with South Indian royals, trade with the Dutch and ties with Thai Buddhist monks. Many of the objects are portable and set with gems; among them is an 18th-century ivory Buddha. Organized by assistant curator Lakshika Senarath Gamage.

Full details at nortonsimon.org

Museum Pasadena

Norton Simon Museum

411 West Colorado Boulevard

Open Thu 12–5, Fri–Sat 12–7, Sun–Mon 12–5

Also at Norton Simon Museum1

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