Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c22.146

c22.146

The same principles apply to the treatment of birds in jewellery. The bird pendant of Pl. L., 1, is pure ornament, without that descriptive character which would be as much out of place as a didactic motif. To wear a real bird, as this pendant is worn by a Kandyan girl in Pl. II., would be barbarous; to imitate a real bird very closely in the manner of Lalique would be idle; but all that is beautiful in the general idea of a bird, colour, form and poise can be suggested.