Nordindien, vermutlich Uttar Pradesh / mittleres Ganges-Tal Terracotta Ausdrucksstarker männlicher Kopf einer Terrakotta-Figur - 19 cm






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Eine antike hohle Tonkopfskulptur eines männlichen Figuren aus Nordindien, vermutlich Uttar Pradesh im mittleren Ganges-Tal, Gupta-Zeit (5.–6. Jh. n. Chr.), mit breitem Lächeln und aufwendiger Frisur, 19 cm hoch, 10,5 cm breit, 8,5 cm tief, in gutem Zustand.
Vom Verkäufer bereitgestellte Beschreibung
Expressive, masculine head of a figurine in terracotta, North India, probably Uttar Pradesh / middle Gangetic valley, Gupta period, 5th–6th century CE.
Important fragmentary terracotta head representing a male figure with a particularly lively expression, characterized by a broad smile, full cheeks, large eyes drawn beneath strongly arched eyebrow arches and a spectacular elaborated hairstyle.
The figure wears large ear ornaments and a high headdress composed of several layered volumes. Its upper part combines a central protruding element with a semi-circular structure adorned with radiating incisions, giving the sculpture a particularly distinctive silhouette.
The precise identity of the figure remains open. The jovial physiognomy may evoke a Gana or a Yakṣa, semi-divine figures well known in ancient Indian art. An interpretation as a court figure or Vidūṣaka, the traditional clown characterized by strong expressivity and unusual hairstyles, is also an interesting possibility. In the absence of the body and supplementary attributes, none of these identifications is presented as certain.
The style and technique point towards the important terracotta traditions developed in the middle Ganges valley during the Gupta period, notably in centers such as Ahichchhatra, Rajghat and more broadly Uttar Pradesh. These resemblances are stylistic and technical; no precise archaeological provenance from one of these sites is claimed.
The piece was designed hollow, as shown by the wide cavity visible under the head. This construction allowed lightening the sculpture and facilitating its drying and firing. Its execution seems to combine molding, modeling and manual retouching, particularly visible in the treatment of the coiffure and incised details.
The reverse is much more roughly worked than the face, indicating likely that the head was intended to be viewed mainly frontally or three-quarters. It could have belonged to a large figure or to a decorative composition, without a demonstrated architectural function.
The terracotta preserves red-pink to red-orange tones under beige and whitish deposits. Wear is more pronounced on the exposed reliefs, while the hollows and incisions retain more deposits.
Condition: generally good for an ancient fragmentary terracotta. Wear, abrasions, chipping and old losses, notably on some peripheral parts and the coiffure. The face retains excellent legibility. No significant restoration, no major rejoining nor obvious reconstruction are visible in the examined documentation. Displayed on a modern metal base.
Provenance: former private Belgian collection, acquired between 1979 and 2009, then transmitted by descendants in 2023.
Dimensions without base: 19 × 10,5 × 8,5 cm.
Reported weight: 1,155 kg.
Height with base: 26,3 cm.
No thermoluminescence analysis has been performed. The attribution and dating proposed rely on stylistic, technical, structural, material and comparative study of the piece.
Video-Link:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/bspsh7p8woe2igzwr9kf6/AJ9W5kl_jzkqAKYKZcOHQjo?rlkey=yqib1hg92ukqs3ec7dd2gp3x6&dl=0
Der Verkäufer stellt sich vor
Expressive, masculine head of a figurine in terracotta, North India, probably Uttar Pradesh / middle Gangetic valley, Gupta period, 5th–6th century CE.
Important fragmentary terracotta head representing a male figure with a particularly lively expression, characterized by a broad smile, full cheeks, large eyes drawn beneath strongly arched eyebrow arches and a spectacular elaborated hairstyle.
The figure wears large ear ornaments and a high headdress composed of several layered volumes. Its upper part combines a central protruding element with a semi-circular structure adorned with radiating incisions, giving the sculpture a particularly distinctive silhouette.
The precise identity of the figure remains open. The jovial physiognomy may evoke a Gana or a Yakṣa, semi-divine figures well known in ancient Indian art. An interpretation as a court figure or Vidūṣaka, the traditional clown characterized by strong expressivity and unusual hairstyles, is also an interesting possibility. In the absence of the body and supplementary attributes, none of these identifications is presented as certain.
The style and technique point towards the important terracotta traditions developed in the middle Ganges valley during the Gupta period, notably in centers such as Ahichchhatra, Rajghat and more broadly Uttar Pradesh. These resemblances are stylistic and technical; no precise archaeological provenance from one of these sites is claimed.
The piece was designed hollow, as shown by the wide cavity visible under the head. This construction allowed lightening the sculpture and facilitating its drying and firing. Its execution seems to combine molding, modeling and manual retouching, particularly visible in the treatment of the coiffure and incised details.
The reverse is much more roughly worked than the face, indicating likely that the head was intended to be viewed mainly frontally or three-quarters. It could have belonged to a large figure or to a decorative composition, without a demonstrated architectural function.
The terracotta preserves red-pink to red-orange tones under beige and whitish deposits. Wear is more pronounced on the exposed reliefs, while the hollows and incisions retain more deposits.
Condition: generally good for an ancient fragmentary terracotta. Wear, abrasions, chipping and old losses, notably on some peripheral parts and the coiffure. The face retains excellent legibility. No significant restoration, no major rejoining nor obvious reconstruction are visible in the examined documentation. Displayed on a modern metal base.
Provenance: former private Belgian collection, acquired between 1979 and 2009, then transmitted by descendants in 2023.
Dimensions without base: 19 × 10,5 × 8,5 cm.
Reported weight: 1,155 kg.
Height with base: 26,3 cm.
No thermoluminescence analysis has been performed. The attribution and dating proposed rely on stylistic, technical, structural, material and comparative study of the piece.
Video-Link:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/bspsh7p8woe2igzwr9kf6/AJ9W5kl_jzkqAKYKZcOHQjo?rlkey=yqib1hg92ukqs3ec7dd2gp3x6&dl=0
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Der Verkäufer wurde von Catawiki über die Anforderungen an die Dokumentation informiert und garantiert Folgendes: - Das Objekt wurde rechtmäßig erworben. - Der Verkäufer hat das Recht, das Objekt zu verkaufen und/oder zu exportieren (sofern zutreffend). - Der Verkäufer wird die erforderlichen Herkunftsinformationen bereitstellen und die notwendigen Dokumente sowie Genehmigungen bzw. Lizenzen besorgen (soweit zutreffend und gemäß den örtlichen Gesetzen geboten). - Der Verkäufer wird den Käufer über etwaige Verzögerungen bei der Erlangung von Genehmigungen bzw. Lizenzen informieren. Mit der Abgabe eines Gebots erkennen Sie an, dass je nach Ihrem Wohnsitzland Importdokumente erforderlich sein können und die Beschaffung von Genehmigungen bzw. Lizenzen zu Verzögerungen bei der Lieferung Ihres Objekts führen kann.
