Northern India

Important fragmentary bust of a female figure, probably a Yakṣī, in terracotta, North India, late Shunga period, probably 1st century BCE. This sculpture stands out for its remarkable decorative richness and for the particularly elaborate treatment of the coiffure. The female face, frontal and slightly smiling, features large almond-shaped eyes, full lips, and a small circular mark applied to the center of the forehead, probably ornamental or auspicious in character. The hairstyle is the most spectacular element of the piece. The hair, parted by a central ridge, is finely striated and framed by an imposing structure composed of large tubular and perforated circular elements, accompanied by lateral curls. This ornamental vocabulary shows important affinities with late prehistoric East Indian terracotta productions, and notably with the Chandraketugarh corpus from Bengal. The figure bears large ear ornaments as well as a broad, striped neckpiece. The chest, strongly modeled and projecting forward, belongs to the vocabulary of female representations associated with fertility, abundance, and prosperity in ancient Indian art. Identification as a Yakṣī is considered probable, though not demonstrable with absolute certainty due to the fragmentary nature of the sculpture. It could more broadly be a female deity or a female auspicious figure associated with abundance. The piece is conceived in a hollow volume and not as a simple plaque. The lower opening allows observation of the internal cavity. The fabrication appears to correspond to a process combining molding, shell assembly, modeling, and manual retouching. The numerous coiffure details have been incised and pierced in the clay. The reverse is convex and carefully smooth, while remaining less detailed than the face, suggesting a three-dimensional sculpture designed for a predominantly frontal presentation. Stylistically, the work belongs to the late Shunga / Early Historic horizon of North India, probably around the 1st century BCE. Chandraketugarh productions provide a particularly relevant rapprochement, but no precise archaeological Provenance from this site is claimed. The terracotta shows a red-pink to orange hue under beige to whitish deposits. Abrasion is more pronounced on the salient parts, while the hollows and perforations retain more deposits. Condition: ancient fragment preserving the head, neck, and chest. The arms are missing and an ancient fracture runs across the lower part under the chest. Small losses and ancient abrasions, notably in the coiffure and on exposed reliefs. No major restoration, no large rejoining or obvious modern reconstruction is visible in the examined documentation. Presented on a modern metal base. Provenance: former Belgian private collection, acquired between 1979 and 2009, then passed down in 2023. Dimensions without base: 17 × 12 × 8 cm. Weight: 879.6 g. Height with base: 25 cm. No thermoluminescence analysis has been carried out. The proposed attribution and dating rely on stylistic, iconographic, technical, material, and comparative study of the piece. video link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/bpfx6i1501h9n0j83c1ux/APX1rJFChR5lOVEXaHNIH6o?rlkey=2i915395sqe0bx69o0dt5p81e&dl=0

Estimation:€2,100

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