History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c34.s2.11

v1.c34.s2.11

The Gupta-age witnessed perfection in every field of Indian art. The high ideals and standard set by the artisans of the Gupta era invariably inspired the artists of the subsequent centuries to follow the same age-old forms, motifs and designs in their art and crafts. The cycle of progress had reached the highest point and it was now moving in the reverse direction. The most articulate sparingly used jewellery of the Gupta era, as seen through the wall-paintings and sculptures, is put to exotic use in sculptures of the subsequent periods. No doubt, some of the names and forms of the ancient jewellery are continued in literature and art of early medieval period of Indian history. For example, the terms, cūḍāmani, makara-kuṇḍalas, nūpūra, mekhalā and ekāvali, etc. were commonly used during the period of Harsa Vardhana. Some new names of ornaments also occur in literature.