Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c27.11

c27.11

Jackets worn by devil-dancers in Sabaragamuva and the low country are often well embroidered, either with thread in the style of the betel-bags, or with appliqué. On Pl. XXIII., 1-3, are illustrated a fine embroidered dancer’s jacket, the ‘Gara-yakshaya’* costume. This consists of a red hand-made cotton cloth skirt and jacket, the skirt with three flounces. The jacket fastens behind. The whole is covered with very elaborate blue and white cotton appliqué embroidery, the edge of the applied cloth being turned in and sewn with white cotton. The design on the chest (‘flower in vase’) might almost be called ‘braided,’ as it is executed by sewing down very narrow strips of applied cloth following the pattern. In the photograph the blue appliqué hardly shows, but follows the white outline just inside it.