The Antiquities of Orissa v1.c10.48.1

v1.c10.48.1

**Sewed dress in Sculpture :** The sculptures of Sāñcī, Amarāvatī, and Orissa, leave no doubt on the subject. Though, owing to causes to be presently noticed, the bulk of the human figures they represent are nude, or very scantily clothed, still there are some which bear unmistakable evidence of the existence of made dresses. Among the Sāñcī bas-reliefs there are several figures dressed in tunics which could never have been made without the aid of needles. The tunics of the two archers on plate XLIII. Fig. 3, of Mr. Fergusson's work are particularly remarkable, inasmuch as the *cāpkāns* there shown, are unmistakable. (Illustration No. 93). Plates XXVIII. Fig. 1, XXXIV. Fig 2, XXXVI. Fig. 2 and XXXVIII. Fig. 1, are also worthy of notice as affording unquestionable evidences of the use of made dresses. A flag-bearer on an elephant has a dress, the sleeves of which are distinctly shewn. (Plate XL. Fig. 2). On a Buddhist rail-post from Buddha Gayā, which probably dates from a time earlier than the Sāñcī rail, there are two figures fully dressed from the neck to the middle of the leg, in a garment which appears strongly like the *jāmā* of the present day (Illustration No. 88). Turning from them to Amarāvatī, the reader will find, among an endless host of nudes and seminudes, figures, the shape of whose habiliments is unmistakably due to the tailor's art. (Plates LXVI and LXXXIV. Fig. 2).