. Indo-Aryans: contributions towards the elucidation of their ancient and mediaeval history. ave hadsome such bijouterie. Looking-glasses deserve to be mentioned as a part of thetoilette, for in ancient India, they wererarely designed as ornaments for most rudimentary form of this article appears in fingerrings, in the shape of bits of cr\-stal set on foils. Such ringswere formerly, as at present, worn on the thumb, and manysculptured nymphs may be seen beholding the reflection oftheir countenances on their rings. Largerspecimens of a circular, oval, or oblong shape,framed and mounte
. Indo-Aryans: contributions towards the elucidation of their ancient and mediaeval history. ave hadsome such bijouterie. Looking-glasses deserve to be mentioned as a part of thetoilette, for in ancient India, they wererarely designed as ornaments for most rudimentary form of this article appears in fingerrings, in the shape of bits of cr\-stal set on foils. Such ringswere formerly, as at present, worn on the thumb, and manysculptured nymphs may be seen beholding the reflection oftheir countenances on their rings. Largerspecimens of a circular, oval, or oblong shape,framed and mounted on handles are notwanting, and these invariably occur in thehands of young ladies. Woodcut No. the reflectors were made of, whetherfoiled glass or crystal, or polished metalplate, I cannot ascertain. In the Sanskritlanguage there are several words to indicatemirrors, and most of them arc dcri\cd fromroots implying reflection, but none a metal,or polishing. In the mediaeval and laterancient works, the words are largely used,but I have not yet met with any of them in the Rig Veda. No. 86. Wilsons Hindu Theatre. [ 241 ] Safihitd. To persons acquainted with crystals and metalfoil and familiar with the art of preparing false jewellery,the idea of setting small plates of crystal on foil for the manu-facture of looking-glasses would be easy enough, and thatis the way, most probably, in which ancient Indian mirrorswere made. Polished metal plates were, however, frequentlyused, and in the present day orthodox people prefer themto foiled glass in connexion with religious plates are usually made of silver, steel, brass, or aspeculum metal in which silver predominates. The ancientEgyptians preferred copper, or an alloy of copper and tin,?. e., bell-metal; but the Hindus hold that alloy asimpure, and never use it for religious purposes. For ordi-nary, every-day, domestic utensils and ornaments, however, itwas, and indeed is, very largely employed, and, seeing that
Size: 1035px × 2415px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectindiahi, bookyear1881
