Indian Antiquary Vol 60

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 173

AUGUST, 1931 1
SOME INDIAN TERRACOTTA FIGURINES
145
applied separately. This figurine is closely duplicated by Salmony's Fig. 4, Plate XXX. R2. des Arts Asiat., No. II, V Année. See also his Fig. 5, Plate XXXI, and Coomaraswamy's Fig. 3 (loc. cit.). All these heads are closely comparable with this head and with the other heads of this group, the same mould probably having been used for the face in each case. I.M. 165—1929 being the best impression. The existence of these duplicates and the state of the figures with reference to the falling away of applied parts suggests that their source was some sort of factory site. FEMALE HEAD. H. 34 in., Greatest width 21 in. I.M. 163-1929.
The fabrio of this head is the same as that of I.M. 162-1929. The figure is without arms, and has been broken diagonally across the waist. The applied head-dress, part of the hair. plait and jewellery have fallen away. FEMALE HEAD. H. 21 in., W. 14 in. I.M. 164–1929.
The fabric of this head is identical with that of I.M. 162 and 163—1929. In this example the details of the moulded face are clearly shown. The lips, pupils and eyelids are all boldly cut; the hair is naturalistically treated, being parted in the middle; over it some kind of ornament is represented by two rows of raised dots, as also in I.M. 162-1929. The earrings have fallen away. The three plaits of hair are ornamented with impressed ciroles. There is a heavy neoklace. The neck is very clumsily modelled, the result of the application of the moulded face to the modelled body. This head shows the surface finish admirably : it overlies the clay in a thin coat, which flakes away under the point of a knife. It is spread very evenly, but in places does not seem to penetrate into the interations of the applied details. It is, indeed, somewhat thicker on the protruding surfaces, as if it had been brushed on, rather than achieved by dipping. FEMALE HEAD. H. 31 in., W. 27 in. I.M. 165-1929.
The parted hair is clearly shown and above it some kind of coronet is represented as in the other heads. The triple plait is preserved, and the heavy double-coil of the right earring, but the left earring has been broken away. Parts of a heavy garland remain round the neck above the breasts; this is ornamented with transverse bands of small impressed circles. FEMALE HEAD. H. 2 in., W. 1} in. I.M. 166—1929.
The triple plait is ornamented with large impressed ciroles. The earrings are both broken away.
The appliqué technique of these terracottas and the use of improseed ciroles in the rendering of the eyes and decorative details, have been found to be common to widely spread groups of Indian figurines. Examples have been quoted (6) from Rampurva, where they were found two feet above the plinth of a Mauryan pillar; (ii) from the Bhir Mound at Taxila, where they were found near the surface, a context which suggests the latter part of the Early Period (first century B.C.); and (iii) from ShAh-ji-ki-Dheri, a Græco-Buddhist site, continuing into the fifth century. These features also oocur in the Nilgiri figurines, with such convincing identity with the Northern Indien examples, that a late date and northern contacte must be admitted for the graves from which they come. It is difficult to suggest an end-point for this technique. It did not survive into the Gupta period, and, moreover, the bulk of the Kushan and Gandharan figurines seem to be moulded. The ShAh-ji-ki-Dheri examples are, however, probably second century A.D. At Babárh the moulded technique prevails and the terracottas 88 a whole are finer, approximating very closely to the sculptures in stone : circa 100 B.o. is an acceptable date. The figurines under discussion partake technically of both these traditions, but they belong to the finer Basarh class, rather than to the more crude group. Their technique and the details of the hairdressing and jewellery, besides the Basdrh parallel quoted by Salmony, all point to late second-first century B., their date of origin.