The Antiquities of Orissa v1.c10.254

v1.c10.254

As none of the bedsteads carved on the temples is of natural size, it is impossible to ascertain how far the rules of the *Bṛhat Saṃhitā*, as regards this class of furniture were respected in practice. The breadth of the bedsteads seen, as far as I can guess, is about three-fourths of the length, but the height is not always exactly one-fourth of the length, or even near it. The principal causes of diversity however are the legs. Unlike the North Indian *cārpoy*, whose legs are almost invariably of the same shape, the Uriyā bedsteads display legs of at least a score of different fanciful shapes quite unlike each other, some of them very similar to European designs of the present day, or such as may be copied to advantage. The woodcuts Nos. 26 to 30, exhibit some of the typical forms, but they are by no means the most select., They were copied as they were met with without careful comparison and selection; but such as they are they will most likely prove interesting. Woodcut No. 26, from Mukteśvara, exhibits a very simple form with a plain border and legs carved like lion's paws. No. 27, from the same locality, is remarkable for the manner in which the lion paws are fixed to the platform, not at the angles as usual, but considerably within the borders. No. 28, from the Great Tower, has very chastely designed legs, and the border of the platform is set off with a complicated series of mouldings. The legs of No. 29, from the same place, are somewhat like those of the last, but its platform has a bevelled edge and no moulding. [ 103 ] Before it are seen a footstool with turned legs, and a curiously shaped vessel which I take to be a spittoon—two articles of frequent occurence as accessories to bedsteads. To a nation so inordinately addicted to chewing betel leaves, the spittoon is a most indispensable article of furniture, and in groups and court scenes, it often occurs in the hand of an attendant. The footstool when placed besides bedstead served the purposes of a step for ascending on the bed, but it was also used as a stand for the betel box, drinking cups, water carafés, or flagons for wine. Woodcut No. 30, from the Great Tower, exhibits the richest bedstead I have seen in Orissan sculpture. It is mounted on an elaborately carved dais, and has very pretty legs of a square pattern, the like of which are very common in Bengal in the present day. On one side of the bedstead is attached a semi-circular head-piece, designed to prevent the pillow from falling over. The bedding (Sanskrit *talpa*) appears to have been stuffed, and the stuffing kept in its place by tufting. There was a large thick pillow on its upper side, but my artist forgot to copy it. From a slightly projecting mark under the frame, I fancy that such bedsteads were sometimes provided with secret recesses for the deposit of valuables and jewellery, as is still the case in some parts of the country. The bedsteads were used both for sleeping, and as ottomans or sofas.