Burma, Mandalay period, 19th century. Consisting of two lacquered wood end covers and sixteen double-sided folios with black, red and gold lacquer. Consisting of passages from the Buddhist canon Tipitaka, Kammavaca manuscripts, as the present one, are usually highly ornamental, with thickly applied lacquer and gilded decorations on both covers and leaves, and Pali text written in ornate Burmese characters - 'tamarind-seed' script. They are often commissioned by lay patrons as gifts to monasteries.
Condition: Very good condition, only minimal wear. Provenance: German private collection.