A SINHALESE IVORY FIGURINE Sri Lanka, Kandyan period, early 19th century  Representing a lady of noble descent, clad in a traditional dress and adorned with opulent heavy jewellery including several strands of beaded necklaces and bracelets, shown standing with her arms resting against her side, the face with a benevolent expression and eyes closed, mounted on a later squared wooden base, 15cm high. According to the scholar Coomaraswamy, ivory figurines of kings and members of nobility were quite sought after and collected in the late Kandyan period in Sri Lanka. Their specific function is still open for interpretation but it seems that they were mostly kept for personal and decorative use by the royal elite (Coomaraswamy, A.K. Medieval Sinhalese Art, Pantheon Books, 1956, p.184). A similar figurine of a royal official was successfully sold at Christie's South Kensington, 22 November 2016, lot 48. This item may require Export or CITES licences in order to leave the UK or the European Union. It is the buyer's responsibility to ensure that lots have the relevant licences before shipping.