Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c10.s1.15

c10.s1.15

The pupil was also taught to draw repeating patterns with a geometrical construction, called *tundan veḍa* (Fig. 9) and all the different types of conventional floral ornament made use of in Sinhalese design. These, by the way, varied a little in different families, wherein they were traditionally transmitted from generation to generation. The types of *tiringi tale* also varied slightly. There was some opportunity for individuality here; it should not be supposed that the strictly traditional character of the arts made it altogether impossible to distinguish one man’s work from another’s. Most noteworthy is the great ease and certainty with which beautiful ornament like that of Fig. 9 can be drawn at a moment’s notice. If one watches such sketches made, it seems rather as if the pattern grows of itself, than that the draftsman makes it.