166 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 



secured to a jewelled button and passed through a perforation in 

 the leaves is employed to hold the book together. 



The large ivory fan handles are among the most treasured 

 possessions of the Buddhist priests, with whom a fan held in front 

 of their faces is an essential portion of the priestly costume at all 

 religious functions. An ivory fan was the insignia of the Sangha 

 Raja, or Buddhist Poj)e, under the Sinhalese kings. The effective 

 decoration of these handles by conventional designs in dots and 

 circles of red and black is specially noteworthy. The design is 

 incised on the object to be decorated, and the hollows filled in with 

 colourmg matter. The intertwined parrot heads shown in the 

 illustration comes from the Balangoda District, and is probably a 

 fragment from the bade of a chair. Above this exhibit is another 

 fragment of particularly excellent carving, though the use of the 

 article is unknown. A variety of small cases, &c., turned on the 

 lathe occupies the lower shelf. These were used as jewel cases, pill 

 boxes, &c., and are all decorated with inlaid lac. Among them may 

 be noticed the medicinal staff of King Raja Sinha II., which consists 

 of a series of pill boxes screwed together in the form of a staff. 

 Each compartment would be filled with a separate variety of medical 

 preparation , and the warmth of the hand was considered to attract 

 the virtues of these drugs within the system of the person who carried 

 the staff. This rare curiosity was presented by the King to the 

 French Count de Lanarolle, who was detained at his Court for 

 many years, till he finally married and settled down among the 

 Sinhalese, and has been lent to the Museum by one of his 

 descendants. 



As might be expected, ivory was largely utilized for making 

 images of the Buddha, and several specimens of these, together 

 with models of figures in various costumes, are shown in the case 

 on the right. It will be noted that, as often done by the Greeks 

 in the case of their marbles, the Sinhalese artist frequently coloured 

 the background of his ivory for the purpose of throwing the delicate 

 carving into prominent relief. Traces of this colouring can be seen 

 in the most ancient plaques already referred to. The large collection 

 of ivory combs display some fine specimens of art. These combs 

 are carved on both faces, and the attention of the visitor is specially 

 drawn to the delicacy of the workmanship in the one with the large 

 lotus flower in the centre ; some of the perforated work and the 

 reproduction of conventional designs are worthy of careful study. 

 The earpicks are done with the same taste and minute care as the 

 combs. An effective specimen of decoration in red lacquer is shown 

 in the large shuttle, which was the insignia of the head of the weavers 

 under the Sinhalese kings. (See Plate XIX.) 



Among the greatest curiosities in Sinhalese ivory work rank the 

 scent sprays or dvidi. The manufacture of these was confined to a 

 few families , and the knowledge is now almost extinct. The material 

 is prepared in such a fashion that the ivory is compressible, and by 

 a little pressure of the fingers will eject its liquid contents. The 

 ivc^ry drum on the lower shelf comes from the musical estabhshment 

 of the last king of Kandy ; by its side are various ivory fiutes and 

 horns such as are still in use in temples. 



Among the other articles of domestic utility in ivory are drinking 

 cups, medicine flasks, mortars, cotton reels, spectacle cases and 

 frames, syringes, &c. The early Portuguese fully appreciated the 

 beauty of Sinhalese work , and the high officials emplo3^ed considerable 



