Sommonacodom. / Autre representation de cette Idole. / Autre. / Talapat, parasoldes Talapoins.

C.18th engraving of Siamese (Thai) dieties. Talapat, from Portuguese talapão; de talapat, name in Siamese, for the palm tree, the leaf of which provides the material for the fan that the monks constantly carry in their hands.

From Denis Diderot’s, Encyclopaedia which was a monument in the history of European thought, undermining the ancien regime and heralding the French Revolution. It was a permanent source for all aspects of eighteenth century knowledge. It was edited by the brilliant Denis Diderot (1713-1784).

Provenance: Wigan Public Library (stamp)

References: Printing and the Mind of Man 200.