From old walls to new shrine: The Black Headed Oriole plaque
A relic’s journey
In an old house, tucked quietly on a fading wall, I found a hand‑painted porcelain plaque. It bore the image of the Black Headed Oriole (Oriolus xanthornus), its yellow body radiant, its black head solemn, its pink beak vivid against the porcelain canvas.
The inscription read:
“Hand Painted Wall Plaque – Rattota China by Lanka Porcelain – Made in Sri Lanka.”
This was no ordinary decoration. It was a relic of Sri Lankan craftsmanship, a piece of artistry that had survived decades, waiting to be noticed.
The gift of continuity
When the house was being sold, its keepers told me: “Take it.” And so I did. Not for money, not for trade, but for safekeeping.
This plaque now carries a lineage:
- Old home: where it hung silently, absorbing memory.
- New home: where it will shine as part of my shrine‑building journey.
- Me: the bridge, ensuring it is not forgotten but re‑contextualized into a Chronicle of comfort and legacy.
Why it matters
- Craftsmanship: Lanka Porcelain’s Rattota China line is a fading chapter of local artistry.
- Symbolism: The oriole, bright yet resilient, mirrors the sovereign path of choosing legacy over profit.
- Continuity: It embodies the transition from one home to another, carrying memory forward.
Closing thought
This plaque is more than porcelain. It is a continuity artifact — a rescued relic that now belongs to my shrine‑home, a reminder that beauty and memory can migrate, survive, and thrive in new walls.