Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c15.51

c15.51

We pass now to the consideration of domestic and other woodwork not architectural. The plain four-legged bed (*eṇḍa*) is an ancient and wide-spread Indian form, consisting of a frame of netted rope or rattan, supported by four feet. In Ceylon it is essentially a wooden frame (*eṇḍa viyala*) of four parts, and with four legs (*kakuḷ*); usually with a low head-rest in addition, morticed into the two upper legs, the tops of which project above the frame for this purpose (Pl. IX., 7). In the most characteristic types, the influence of architectural forms is evident, the legs being thirmed, and chamfered as are wooden pillars (Pl. XII., 4-7); turned and lacquered legs are also met with. The now commoner turned and carved four-post beds in general use owe their form to European influence, mainly Dutch; it is curious that there still exists a real style in furniture, based on eighteenth century European; a more dignified and massive architectural style is that really proper to the country, but so little furniture of any kind was formerly used, as to make it natural for the European forms to come in with the European habit; to say nothing of the prevalent mania for the imitation of all things European; though the semi-Dutch style of furniture was arrived at before that mania reached its present height. The mattress was formed of rope or rattan netting; over this were laid a few cloths and mats and a pillow, the sleeper covering himself from head to foot with cloth or cotton blanket. Plank beds are rarely met with; the beautiful example of Pl. X., 6, is almost a solitary instance; the ‘chip’ carving is better shown in Fig. 84. The low head-rest or rather head-board is sometimes finely carved (Pl. IX., 7; XI., 3; and Fig. 85).