Wooden ladle holders such as the proposed acquisition were part of intricately decorated kitchen implements made for households in Sri Lanka (and Tamil Nadu) which showed off the skills of local wood carvers and artists. This pair of ladle holders dates to the 20th century and is rare because of the intricacy of carving and the depictions of yali along the top. Yali are mythical creatures that are commonly depicted in South Indian temple art and are looked upon as guardian figures.Wood carving was an important part of the material culture of Sri Lanka with doors, door lintels, pillars, bedsteads, jewellery boxes and kitchen implements being intricately carved.
