Ancient India – Western Bengal

Rare molded terracotta plaque narrative depicting a richly adorned female figure, probably a Yakṣī or female deity connected with the forces of nature, seated laterally on an imposing hybrid aquatic monster of the makara type. The composition stands out for its particularly appealing horizontal format, the richness of its decoration, and its molded frame punctuated by small circular motifs and large rosettes at the corners. The scene belongs to the vocabulary of ancient Indian terracottas and shows strong stylistic affinities with productions from **Chandraketugarh, in western Bengal**, an important artistic and commercial center of the lower Ganges valley. The piece is very likely attributed to the **Chandraketugarh tradition**, in the horizon **post-Maurya / Śuṅga – early Kushan**, and can be dated to the **2nd century BCE to 1st century CE**. The plaque was made by unifacial casting; the reverse, undecorated, preserves the irregularities and smoothing traces characteristic of this fabrication method. **Etat :** anciently fragmented and restored plaque, in relatively good condition considering its age. The fracture lines remain visible, with wear, abrasions and small superficial losses. The restoration is stable and allows an excellent overall reading of the composition. Modern metal base. **Dimensions hors socle :** 11.5 × 12.7 × 1.5 cm. **Hauteur totale avec socle :** 16.5 cm. **Poids :** 414 g, probably including the base. **Important – Thermoluminescence:** no thermoluminescence (TL) analysis has been performed on this work. Attribution, dating and authenticity opinion rely on physical and macroscopic examination of the piece, its fabrication technique, study of its surfaces and preservation state, as well as comparison with documented archaeological, museum and scientific corpora. A particularly interesting piece due to the rarity of its narrative composition, its aquatic iconography, and its attachment to the important terracotta productions of ancient eastern India. video link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/br9lek0xlmove436hf9gf/AEKR0bttUZdt-uwH1xh0bnM?rlkey=h2l2kaf64anu9iuy04icpg6fv&dl=0

Estimate:£762.5

View all items fromCatawikiorAncient Art