It is claimed that it was the Portuguese who introduced the art of furniture making into Sri Lanka. It is hard to believe this, when one finds the exquisite designs seen in the stone carvings in the Sri Lanka of ancient days. Furniture made of quality timber like ebony and mahogany, with inlays of ivory and brass are items treasured in rich Sri Lankan house-holds, up to the present time. It is a tradition nowadays, for the bride's parents to donate items of furniture to a newly married couple, to start their new home.
I took the above picture of an item of antique furniture, placed in the lobby of the Mount Lavinia Hotel, Sri Lanka.
