Northern India – ancient Bengal, Chandraketugarh type Terracotta Set of three votive medallions - 14 cm
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Selected by Peter Reynaers
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Estimate € 350 - € 550
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A set of three circular votive terracotta medallions from North Bengal, Chandraketugarh type, Early Historic Shunga (2nd–1st century BCE), mounted on a modern metal base; each medallion about 4.5–4.7 cm in diameter with a pressed relief and varied depictions, total weight about 90 g, displayed on a stand that brings the overall height to 14 cm and width to 11 cm.
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Description from the seller
Set of three circular votive medallions in molded terracotta, Northern India, ancient Bengal, Chandraketugarh type, Shunga/Early Historic period, 2nd–1st century BCE.
A fine, coherent set of three small ancient terracotta medallions, gathered on a modern metal base specially adapted for presentation.
Each piece adopts the same general structure: a wide rounded circular rim, a central field slightly recessed, and a prominent central knob, around which a radially organized molded decoration unfolds. The compositions are close without being identical, with variations in design, relief depth, and size that indicate several mold variants belonging to the same production tradition.
The decoration combines zoomorphic, vegetal, and probably anthropomorphic motifs, arranged in sectors around the center. Several animal silhouettes in profile as well as vegetal elements remain discernible on the best-preserved examples. The overall arrangement evokes a small symbolic or cosmological wheel, while maintaining a cautious iconographic reading.
By virtue of their molding technique, small size, radial structure, and decorative vocabulary, these medallions belong to the vast corpus of ancient Bengal and Chandraketugarh terracottas, traditionally placed in the Early Historic/Shunga period, around the 2nd–1st centuries BCE.
The surfaces show tones ranging from pink-beige to gray-brown, with natural color variations. One of the three pieces carries a darker hue on part of the rim and reverse. The reliefs show gentle, irregular wear, with minor peripheral abrasions and a few surface micro-cracks. No major structural damage is visible.
The reverses are simpler and show a hand-finished quality with surface differences consistent with the pieces’ antiquity. The perforations visible on the reverse correspond to the modern mounting on the base.
Dimensions excluding base:
Medallion 1: Ø 4.7 cm × thickness 1.5 cm
Medallion 2: Ø 4.5 cm × thickness 1.6 cm
Medallion 3: Ø 4.7 cm × thickness 1.7 cm
Individual weights: 28 g; 30 g; 31.7 g.
Total weight excluding base: 89.7 g.
Dimensions including base: H. 14 cm × L. 11 cm × D. 6 cm.
Total weight including base: 352.2 g.
Provenance: private Belgian collection, formed between 1979 and 2009.
A harmonious and highly decorative set of three ancient Bengal terracotta pieces, whose common presentation especially highlights the variations in relief, patina, and composition characteristic of each medallion.
video link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/k7pht3kc7mml5vtokuy5s/AFtJoDzLwWr4vUOokNciY70?rlkey=w7p9u7zotbcqqbtjbztmu62wd&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 TranslateSet of three circular votive medallions in molded terracotta, Northern India, ancient Bengal, Chandraketugarh type, Shunga/Early Historic period, 2nd–1st century BCE.
A fine, coherent set of three small ancient terracotta medallions, gathered on a modern metal base specially adapted for presentation.
Each piece adopts the same general structure: a wide rounded circular rim, a central field slightly recessed, and a prominent central knob, around which a radially organized molded decoration unfolds. The compositions are close without being identical, with variations in design, relief depth, and size that indicate several mold variants belonging to the same production tradition.
The decoration combines zoomorphic, vegetal, and probably anthropomorphic motifs, arranged in sectors around the center. Several animal silhouettes in profile as well as vegetal elements remain discernible on the best-preserved examples. The overall arrangement evokes a small symbolic or cosmological wheel, while maintaining a cautious iconographic reading.
By virtue of their molding technique, small size, radial structure, and decorative vocabulary, these medallions belong to the vast corpus of ancient Bengal and Chandraketugarh terracottas, traditionally placed in the Early Historic/Shunga period, around the 2nd–1st centuries BCE.
The surfaces show tones ranging from pink-beige to gray-brown, with natural color variations. One of the three pieces carries a darker hue on part of the rim and reverse. The reliefs show gentle, irregular wear, with minor peripheral abrasions and a few surface micro-cracks. No major structural damage is visible.
The reverses are simpler and show a hand-finished quality with surface differences consistent with the pieces’ antiquity. The perforations visible on the reverse correspond to the modern mounting on the base.
Dimensions excluding base:
Medallion 1: Ø 4.7 cm × thickness 1.5 cm
Medallion 2: Ø 4.5 cm × thickness 1.6 cm
Medallion 3: Ø 4.7 cm × thickness 1.7 cm
Individual weights: 28 g; 30 g; 31.7 g.
Total weight excluding base: 89.7 g.
Dimensions including base: H. 14 cm × L. 11 cm × D. 6 cm.
Total weight including base: 352.2 g.
Provenance: private Belgian collection, formed between 1979 and 2009.
A harmonious and highly decorative set of three ancient Bengal terracotta pieces, whose common presentation especially highlights the variations in relief, patina, and composition characteristic of each medallion.
video link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/k7pht3kc7mml5vtokuy5s/AFtJoDzLwWr4vUOokNciY70?rlkey=w7p9u7zotbcqqbtjbztmu62wd&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
Northern India – ancient Bengal, Chandraketugarh type
Century/timeframe
IIe–Ier siècle av. J.-C. – période Shunga
Name of object
Set of three votive medallions
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
14 cm
Previous owner - year acquired
1979
Width
11 cm
Previous owner - country acquired from
Belgium
Depth
6 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.
