Ancient India – Northern India, Gangetic Valley Terracotta Terracotta head of a Bodhisattva - 15 cm
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€ 2
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Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 2,000 - € 2,500
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 | €1 |
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Terracotta Head of a Bodhisattva from Ancient India (North Valley of the Ganges), Gupta period dating to the 5th–6th century AD and likely the 6th century, measuring 15 × 11.5 × 10 cm, in good condition, authenticated as Original/official and hollow with a modern metal base, acquired in 2025 from a private Belgian collection.
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Description from the seller
Important terracotta Bodhisattva head, Northern India, Gupta period, 5th–6th century CE, probably the 6th century.
The head shows a powerful and highly expressive modeling: full face with elongated eyes, strongly drawn eyebrow arches, fleshy lips, and an elaborately arranged coiffure composed of broad locks in volutes. The ears bear heavy circular ornaments, while a slightly raised ūrnā, confirmed on physical examination at the center of the forehead, supports the identification as Bodhisattva.
The piece is hollow and strongly modeled on the front and on the profiles. Its reverse, today fragmentary and not intended for viewing, indicates that it likely belonged to a larger sculptural or architectural ensemble, in line with a well-documented practice in the great terracotta centers of the Ganges valley during the Gupta period.
The style shows strong affinities with productions from Ahichchhatra, particularly in the treatment of the face, the coiffure, and the ornaments, although no precise archaeological provenance can be asserted.
Beautiful patina with even wear and deposits in the hollows. Displayed on a modern metal base.
Provenance: old Belgian private collection, assembled between 1979 and 2009, then transmitted by inheritance in 2023.
Dimensions without base: 15 × 11.5 × 10 cm. Total height with base: 22 cm. Weight without base: 958 g.
No thermoluminescence tests have been performed; attribution rests on material, stylistic, and comparative examination of the work.
video link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/7p4an2pfqgicsxkqeky5k/AKifVlMVNakbdyEYvuNEKW0?rlkey=iiqke03ctl5leman7gz2nf2uu&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 TranslateImportant terracotta Bodhisattva head, Northern India, Gupta period, 5th–6th century CE, probably the 6th century.
The head shows a powerful and highly expressive modeling: full face with elongated eyes, strongly drawn eyebrow arches, fleshy lips, and an elaborately arranged coiffure composed of broad locks in volutes. The ears bear heavy circular ornaments, while a slightly raised ūrnā, confirmed on physical examination at the center of the forehead, supports the identification as Bodhisattva.
The piece is hollow and strongly modeled on the front and on the profiles. Its reverse, today fragmentary and not intended for viewing, indicates that it likely belonged to a larger sculptural or architectural ensemble, in line with a well-documented practice in the great terracotta centers of the Ganges valley during the Gupta period.
The style shows strong affinities with productions from Ahichchhatra, particularly in the treatment of the face, the coiffure, and the ornaments, although no precise archaeological provenance can be asserted.
Beautiful patina with even wear and deposits in the hollows. Displayed on a modern metal base.
Provenance: old Belgian private collection, assembled between 1979 and 2009, then transmitted by inheritance in 2023.
Dimensions without base: 15 × 11.5 × 10 cm. Total height with base: 22 cm. Weight without base: 958 g.
No thermoluminescence tests have been performed; attribution rests on material, stylistic, and comparative examination of the work.
video link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/7p4an2pfqgicsxkqeky5k/AKifVlMVNakbdyEYvuNEKW0?rlkey=iiqke03ctl5leman7gz2nf2uu&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, Gangetic Valley
Century/timeframe
Ve–VIe siècle apr. J.-C. | Période Gupta, probablement VIe siècle
Name of object
Terracotta head of a Bodhisattva
Acquired from
Private collection
Year acquired
2025
Material
Terracotta
Country acquired from
Belgium
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Gallery / Antique dealer
Height
15 cm
Previous owner - year acquired
1979
Width
11.5 cm
Previous owner - country acquired from
Belgium
Depth
10 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.
