King Keerthi Sri Rajasingha's Chestnut and Dagger on display in Netherlands
These two chestnuts and the dagger, which are believed to belong to King Keerthi Sri Rajasingha (1747-1782 AD), who reigned in the Kingdom of Kandy, are currently kept in the Rijksmuseum in the Netherlands.
These are exquisite creations with beautiful fine gold and silver carvings. Gold Chestnut is 78.6cm continuous, Silver Chestnut is 61.5cm continuous, Dagger is 29.5cm continuous.
In 1765, the Dutch (Dutch East India Trading Company /V.O.C) attacked Kandy and these two chestnuts and a dagger were handed over to the Dutch from the palace of the King of Kandy.
These are believed to belong to the king's private property. Because the king of Kandy was the one entitled to wear a gold-handled knife and sword at that time and therefore it is reasonable to believe that these belonged to the king.
In the Kandy kingdom, silver chestnuts were planted by Adikarams. These silver chestnuts were created in the workshops of the king of Kandy and given by the king when the Adikarams came to power. Therefore, these silver chestnuts could be created by the king of Kandy to give to high officials (adhikarams).
During the Dutch invasion that started on January 4, 1765, the Dutch forces with more than 4400 soldiers entered Kandy on February 16 through Gonawala, Galagedara, Wauda and Katugastota until February 19 and took control of it. The king left the city and the palace was looted first by the townspeople (the authenticity of this is unclear) and secondly by the Dutch. The Londoners with these two chestnuts and the dagger will be delighted.
In a very short time the Dutch decided to leave the city of Kandy, and accordingly decided to abandon the city on August 25 (1765) and on the 31st the retreat from Kandy began.
This sword is mentioned in the inventory of Baron Lubert Jan Eck, Governor of Dutch Ceylon who died in office that month (1765).
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