Northern India – ancient historical period Terracotta...

Rare figurative discoid earthenware ornament from North India, attributed to the ancient historical period, within a Shunga–post-Shunga stylistic horizon, circa 2nd century BCE – 1st century CE. The main face presents a particularly interesting molded relief: an anthropomorphic figure seems confronted by a large upright animal, presumably a feline. The scene is surrounded by a regular bordered, compartmentalized frame. Partial erosion of the relief does not allow certainty in identifying the figure nor to further specify the symbolic nature of the scene. The morphology of the object is remarkable. The disk has a strongly convex back finished with a small axial boss that is ancient and integral to the piece. A comparative study based on archaeological publications devoted to ancient Indian terracotta ornaments allows proposing with a good level of confidence a function as an ear ornament intended for a dilated earlobe. The more precise designation of tatanka or tatanka-chakra remains prudent, as ancient morphological variants are numerous. The piece is made of ochre-red terracotta and its frontal decoration was achieved by molding. It shows wear and abrasion that are homogeneous and compatible with its antiquity. The small hole visible at the center of the rear boss is modern and was created solely to allow fixation of the object on its display stand; the boss itself is ancient. The object has undergone a thorough material, stylistic and comparative examination, compared with several archaeological corpora and publications dedicated to terracottas and ornaments of ancient India. The authenticity and dating proposed result from the convergence of this physical examination, the expert’s experience, and the scientific documentation studied. No thermoluminescence analysis was carried out. Given the nature and value of the object, it was considered that such an examination was not proportionately warranted. Thermoluminescence can provide scientific indication concerning the age of firing of a terracotta, but does not by itself authenticate the object, its iconography, or its cultural attribution. This absence of analysis is expressly mentioned for transparency. Very good state of conservation given its age, with wear, abrasions and small surface irregularities visible. No significant element of the decoration has undergone modern restoration identified during the examination. Dimensions excluding the base: diameter 6 cm; thickness 2 cm. Weight excluding the base: 122 g. Modern display base included. video link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/0actm5spsyrlk8bghsyg8/AIT7TFvf5PRHiUYhPjlukoQ?rlkey=py5l5eoml8cfkaqrpep8z01yz&dl=0

Estimate:$792.88

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