GANDHARA, 3RD/4TH CENTURY

Details

A rare terracotta bust of a female
Gandhara, 3rd/4th Century
Finely and expressively modeled holding a lotus blossom in her extended hand and dressed in a tight-fitting robe elegantly draped over the shoulder, adorned with the remains of a large necklace, the face tilted to the right with bow-shaped lips and almond-shaped eyes, the hair in wavy locks and secured with a headband
11¾ in. (29.8 cm.) high

Provenance

Collection of David Nalin, Pennsylvania, 1982

Literature

C. Basu, Displaying Many Faces: Art and Gandharan Identity, Selections from the David Nalin Collection, 2004, p. 70, cat. no. 72

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Lot Essay

As was common for works in terracotta for this time, the artist likely used molds to shape different pieces such as elements of the necklace, which were then assembled. However, it also shows impressive modeling by hand, especially in the robe across the breast and shoulder, and in the hair. In places, there are remains of gesso and the figure would likely have been painted in polychromy.

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