Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c23.7

c23.7

The lac thus prepared is used for the decoration of a large variety of articles, especially wooden sticks of various kinds, such as staffs (*herimiṭi*), handles of ceremonial spears, banners, fans, &c., ceremonial pingos, &c., and also to many other things such as powder horns *Lac-work* (vedibehet kāraka), oboes (horaṇǣ), book covers (pot kambi), &c., and it is also used as an inlay in ivory, horn, and chank work. For the last purpose the ivory is incised with lines and circles which are filled up with the coloured lac. In the case of turned ivory or horn, this is effected by holding a piece of lac against it, while revolving on the lathe; the lac, heated by friction, is softened and fills up the incised grooves. Such ornament in Kandyan districts is almost invariably confined to incised lines and circles similar to work from Jodhpur in India*; but flat plates of ivory inlaid with scroll and floral ornament are used in the fittings of calamander boxes made in the low-country, particularly at Matara, and this style reminds one of the similar methods of decorating ivory used on the musical instruments still made at Tanjore. Examples of lac-work are illustrated in Pl. XXIV., and of lac inlay in Pl. XXXVI, 8; XXXVII., 1, 6-9, 11; XL., 3; XLI., 1.