Ancient India – Northern India, tradition of the Gangetic Valley Terracotta Rare terracotta female head, probably Yakṣa. - 12 cm
11
days
21
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10
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39
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Current bid
€ 270
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 1,100 - € 1,400
 | €270 | |
|---|---|---|
| €250 | |
 | €50 | |
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Rare terracotta head of a female figure, probably Yakṣī, from North India’s Kushan period (1st–3rd century CE), measuring 12 cm in height, 9 cm in width and 7 cm in depth, weighing 615.5 g, with a modern base, the piece fragmentary and restored yet in good condition for its age, authenticated as original.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Beautiful and expressive **head of a female terracotta figure**, probably of the **Yakṣī** type, from North India and belonging to the artistic tradition of the Ganges valley during the **Kushan period, 1st–3rd century CE**.
The head is created in a **hollow roundel/round-boss relief** and originally belonged to a more complete figure, as indicated by the ancient break at the neck. The face, with full features and strongly modeled, is framed by an elaborately developed coiffure, organized into voluminous masses and rolls. A small **auspicious sign (bindi)** in shallow relief adorns the center of the forehead. The greatly stretched lobes bear heavy ear ornaments, probably of the *kuṇḍala* type, characteristic of the North Indian figurative repertoire during the early centuries of our era.
The surface preserves an **ancient pink-red coloration** perfectly integrated, accompanied by deposits and natural alterations. The neck break, the interior cavity and the exterior surfaces show wear and aging that are coherent. No structural collage or major modern restoration has been observed.
Identification as a **Yakṣī**, a female auspicious or semi-divine figure associated with the religious traditions of ancient India, is considered probable but remains deliberately cautious due to the absence of the body and its attributes.
**Dimensions excluding base:** H. 12 cm × L. 9 cm × P. 7 cm
**Weight:** 615.5 g
Modern base included.
**Provenance:** former Belgian private collection.
**Condition:** good relative condition for an archaeological terracotta of this age; fragmentary head with wear, deposits and small ancient losses visible in photographs.
**Important – Thermoluminescence:** no thermoluminescence (TL) analysis has been carried out. Attribution, dating and assessment of authenticity rely on physical and macroscopic examination of the work, its manufacturing technique, study of its surfaces and conservation state, and comparison with available archaeological, museological and scientific corpora. TL is a complementary method to evaluate the age of the last firing of the material, but does not, by itself, provide absolute authentication of the object in its current form.
video link:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/xzmxi7018ipzy54366951/ANAi1GE3it_kDAK2ozI-Xjk?rlkey=zr0ve7e0ftrkc1rcws0fku3y2&dl=0
Seller's Story
MIMOSA SA — EXPERTISE, RESEARCH AND TRANSMISSION
For more than 26 years, I have been working as an art dealer specializing in ancient Asian arts. My work is not simply to offer objects: it is to observe them, to understand them, to study them and to document them before passing them to a new collector.
Each work presented by Mimosa SA undergoes thorough examination. Depending on its nature, this study may concern the iconography, the style, the proportions, the material, the execution techniques, surface traces, patina, the condition, restorations, provenance as well as relevant bibliographic, museum or archaeological comparisons. When justified, additional scientific analyses may also be undertaken.
Our approach rests on the experience of sight, gained from direct contact with the works for over two decades, but also on methodical and constantly renewed research. We always favor a cautious, coherent and argued attribution rather than a seductive but insufficiently substantiated assertion.
Transparency is at the heart of our approach. The wear, gaps, accidents, ancient restorations or more recent interventions are reported as precisely as possible. When an attribution carries uncertainty or remains a working hypothesis, it is clearly presented as such.
Present on Catawiki since 2016, we have chosen to maintain a regular selection of works there in order to meet international collectors who value authenticity, knowledge and quality of documentation.
Each acquisition is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity issued under our professional responsibility. For the most important works, this certificate takes the form of a genuine study dossier gathering the main technical, stylistic, iconographic, historical and bibliographic observations made during our research.
The same standard applies to shipping. Over the years, we have developed a packaging method adapted to old, fragile, heavy or complex-shaped objects. Each work is protected, immobilized and carefully packaged, according to its material and its particularities. The shipping costs correspond to the real needs for protection, handling, insurance and secure transport. Shipping is never regarded as a source of commercial profit.
Acquiring a work from Mimosa SA is to receive a selected, studied, described, documented and prepared object with the same care that we would wish for a work destined for our own collection.
Translated by Google TranslateBeautiful and expressive **head of a female terracotta figure**, probably of the **Yakṣī** type, from North India and belonging to the artistic tradition of the Ganges valley during the **Kushan period, 1st–3rd century CE**.
The head is created in a **hollow roundel/round-boss relief** and originally belonged to a more complete figure, as indicated by the ancient break at the neck. The face, with full features and strongly modeled, is framed by an elaborately developed coiffure, organized into voluminous masses and rolls. A small **auspicious sign (bindi)** in shallow relief adorns the center of the forehead. The greatly stretched lobes bear heavy ear ornaments, probably of the *kuṇḍala* type, characteristic of the North Indian figurative repertoire during the early centuries of our era.
The surface preserves an **ancient pink-red coloration** perfectly integrated, accompanied by deposits and natural alterations. The neck break, the interior cavity and the exterior surfaces show wear and aging that are coherent. No structural collage or major modern restoration has been observed.
Identification as a **Yakṣī**, a female auspicious or semi-divine figure associated with the religious traditions of ancient India, is considered probable but remains deliberately cautious due to the absence of the body and its attributes.
**Dimensions excluding base:** H. 12 cm × L. 9 cm × P. 7 cm
**Weight:** 615.5 g
Modern base included.
**Provenance:** former Belgian private collection.
**Condition:** good relative condition for an archaeological terracotta of this age; fragmentary head with wear, deposits and small ancient losses visible in photographs.
**Important – Thermoluminescence:** no thermoluminescence (TL) analysis has been carried out. Attribution, dating and assessment of authenticity rely on physical and macroscopic examination of the work, its manufacturing technique, study of its surfaces and conservation state, and comparison with available archaeological, museological and scientific corpora. TL is a complementary method to evaluate the age of the last firing of the material, but does not, by itself, provide absolute authentication of the object in its current form.
video link:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/xzmxi7018ipzy54366951/ANAi1GE3it_kDAK2ozI-Xjk?rlkey=zr0ve7e0ftrkc1rcws0fku3y2&dl=0
Seller's Story
MIMOSA SA — EXPERTISE, RESEARCH AND TRANSMISSION
For more than 26 years, I have been working as an art dealer specializing in ancient Asian arts. My work is not simply to offer objects: it is to observe them, to understand them, to study them and to document them before passing them to a new collector.
Each work presented by Mimosa SA undergoes thorough examination. Depending on its nature, this study may concern the iconography, the style, the proportions, the material, the execution techniques, surface traces, patina, the condition, restorations, provenance as well as relevant bibliographic, museum or archaeological comparisons. When justified, additional scientific analyses may also be undertaken.
Our approach rests on the experience of sight, gained from direct contact with the works for over two decades, but also on methodical and constantly renewed research. We always favor a cautious, coherent and argued attribution rather than a seductive but insufficiently substantiated assertion.
Transparency is at the heart of our approach. The wear, gaps, accidents, ancient restorations or more recent interventions are reported as precisely as possible. When an attribution carries uncertainty or remains a working hypothesis, it is clearly presented as such.
Present on Catawiki since 2016, we have chosen to maintain a regular selection of works there in order to meet international collectors who value authenticity, knowledge and quality of documentation.
Each acquisition is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity issued under our professional responsibility. For the most important works, this certificate takes the form of a genuine study dossier gathering the main technical, stylistic, iconographic, historical and bibliographic observations made during our research.
The same standard applies to shipping. Over the years, we have developed a packaging method adapted to old, fragile, heavy or complex-shaped objects. Each work is protected, immobilized and carefully packaged, according to its material and its particularities. The shipping costs correspond to the real needs for protection, handling, insurance and secure transport. Shipping is never regarded as a source of commercial profit.
Acquiring a work from Mimosa SA is to receive a selected, studied, described, documented and prepared object with the same care that we would wish for a work destined for our own collection.
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Culture
Ancient India – Northern India, tradition of the Gangetic Valley
Century/timeframe
Ier–IIIe siècle apr. J.-C. | Période Kushan, dans la continuité des traditions Śuṅga tardives
Name of object
Rare terracotta female head, probably Yakṣa.
Acquired from
Private collection
Year acquired
2025
Material
Terracotta
Country acquired from
Belgium
Condition
Plaque formerly fragmented and restored; in good condition considering its age.
Previous owner acquired from
Gallery / Antique dealer
Height
12 cm
Previous owner - year acquired
1979
Width
9 cm
Previous owner - country acquired from
Belgium
Depth
7 cm
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
Disclaimer
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
