Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c27.2

c27.2

There seem to have been, in the case of weaving, two classes of work done, the first limited in amount, for the Court and aristocracy, and Indian in style, the second more strictly indigenous. The *hannali*, or tailors proper, were few in number, and held lands in respect of which it was their duty to make "the splendid and barbarous dresses of the king and his court" (Davy). As tenants of dēvāles and vihāras they had to prepare sacred vestments, curtains, flags, etc., and to assist in decorating the car. As tenants of lay proprietors, they had to make up the *pacca heṭṭaya* (brocade jacket), gold embroidered *toppiya* (square hat of the chieftain), and to embroider jackets for the wives and daughters. The materials used by such tailors were largely of Indian origin, as red felt, velvet, tinsel, the brocades used for jackets, or the gold thread for embroidering hats and ceremonial fans.