Northern India – ancient Bengal

Set of three circular votive tablets in molded terracotta, Northern India, ancient Bengal, Chandraketugarh-type, Shunga / Early Historic period, 2nd–1st century BCE. A particularly coherent ensemble of three small circular terracotta tablets belonging to the vast corpus of molded terracotta from ancient Bengal. Each piece features a broad rounded rim surrounding a decorative field slightly set back, organized around a prominent central button. The decoration develops according to a clearly radial arrangement, creating a composition visually reminiscent of a wheel. The reliefs combine several figurative motifs: animals in profile, botanical elements and shapes probably anthropomorphic. On the best-preserved specimens, a long-necked large bird, a palmiformly characterized upright plant motif, and various quadrupeds are notably perceptible. The three medallions clearly belong to the same iconographic tradition but are not exact duplicates; variations in composition and relief indicate the use of different molds. This dense organization of the decoration, the small dimensions, the molding technique and the nature of the terracotta correspond to Early Historic Bengal productions, traditionally associated with the Chandraketugarh site and region. Their exact function is not archaeologically documented, but their format and iconography suggest a votive or devotional purpose. The paste shows tones ranging from pink and light beige to brown-gray, with darker areas likely resulting from firing conditions and the material history of the pieces. The reliefs exhibit gentle, progressive wear of the protruding parts, consistent with repeated ancient handling. The ensemble is in good conservation condition given its age. There are abrasions, small chips, micro-cracks and peripheral irregularities. One of the medallions shows several small radial cracks at the lower rim as well as a slight ancient loss; no major structural break is visible. The three medallions are presented on a modern custom-made metal base, included in the sale. Dimensions of the medallions excluding the base: Ø 4.5 cm × thickness 1.5 cm – 25.0 g Ø 4.4 cm × thickness 1.5 cm – 29.3 g Ø 4.8 cm × thickness 1.6 cm – 31.3 g Total weight of the three medallions: 85.6 g. Dimensions of the piece with the base: H. 14 × L. 10.5 × D. 6 cm. Total weight with base: 343.1 g. Provenance: former Belgian private collection, formed between 1979 and 2009. The set is accompanied by an authenticity certificate and Mimosa SA study signed by Olivier Maréchal. video link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/gzh7vfbvivw6mb8bt3fyr/ADR_c6On4O0TgS7UnQ4HxXY?rlkey=7lzn9ej9pbujzhr62g8i47imq&dl=0

Estimación:€375

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