Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c17.11

c17.11

Ivory images of Buddha are not abundant. They were always painted. Kandyan craftsmen are still skilful in making ivory figurines of drummers, Raṭemahatmayas, and other Kandyan characters, and the workmanship of these is superior to that of the ivory figures shown on Pl. XXXVI., where their chief value is in the illustration of eighteenth century costume. Such figures were not wholly coloured, but generally details of dress and features picked out in red, and the hair blackened.