History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c35.s1.44

v1.c35.s1.44

The dressing table sculpted at Ajanta in the conceptions scene is non-Indian and bears striking resemblance with the ultra-modern examples of our times. Another variety of dining table low in height and having oval top mounted on curved legs, represented in the Ajanta paintings has foreign origin. It is interesting to recall that Athenams refer to similar dining table of the Mauryan emperor Candragupta. As is evident from the statement of Megasthanese the antiquity of such tables can be traced to 4th century B.C. (Dhavalikar, p. 100). It is probable that such tables came into India in the 5th century B.C. during the time of Persian invasion. Various kinds of curtains or blinds (Cakkalikas) were in use. A movable curtain (Samsaraṇa or Ugghaṭanakiṭikā) gets represented at Nagarjunakonda. Curtains of different colours in three rows (tiraskrani) get depicted in a royal court (Dhavalikar, p. 102) in the Ajanta paintings. Curtains are usually referred to as Yavanikas or Javanikas and the Ionian Greeks are generally credited with their introduction in India. Perhaps in early period, curtains were imported from abroad for merchants on the western coast are said to be buying foreign curtains (IA. XVI. 1887, p. 8).