Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c16.21

c16.21

A few words may be said about gems, and crystal. All gems found were strictly royal *Gems* property, and, no doubt, found their way to the treasury in considerable numbers. They were almost always cut ‘en cabochon.’ Occasionally stones are met with slightly facetted, with original facets polished. The gem-cutting apparatus consisted of a lathe, similar to the ivory turner’s lathe of Pl. VI., 4, but worked by a bow, and having a copper plate set with corundum powder.