Northern India – ancient Bengal

Pair of circular votive terracotta medallions molded in clay, attributed to ancient Bengal, in the Chandraketugarh tradition, Shunga / Early Historic period, circa 2nd–1st centuries BCE. The two medallions present a circular composition organized around a protruding central knob. The decoration, radially arranged, blends vegetal motifs with animal representations, in a vocabulary characteristic of the small molded terracottas from ancient India. Although belonging to the same stylistic and technical tradition, the two pieces show slight variations in drawing and modeling, corresponding to mold variants or to distinct reiterations within the same production. The reliefs remain clearly legible and show a soft, progressive wear of the protruding parts, compatible with ancient repeated handling. In the context of a probable votive function, this abrasion can be interpreted as compatible with prolonged votive use or rubbing. The terracotta exhibits beige-pink to light brown hues. The reverses show traces of smoothing and manual shaping. A few small abrasions, cavities, and micro-cracks are localized along the edges, with no major structural damage. Dimensions of each medallion: diameter 4.5 cm; thickness 1.5 cm. Individual weights: 27.1 g and 31.3 g. Total weight excluding base: 58.4 g. Total height with base: 12.8 cm. Base of the base: 5 × 4 cm. Total weight with base: 162.1 g. Provenance: former private Belgian collection, assembled between 1979 and 2009. The two medallions are presented on a modern bespoke metal base, included in the sale. The attribution rests on material examination, stylistic analysis, and comparison with published corpora of Bengal ancient terracottas and of Chandraketugarh. No thermoluminescence analysis has been conducted, as it was not deemed proportionate to the value of the lot. A Mimosa SA certificate of study and authenticity accompanies the lot. video link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/b36if1wvpqpt36oz9vxkd/AIhanptdsFCrA1fqkFm9vKc?rlkey=xgizxh4n28fukb7fpiuyu616a&dl=0

Utropspris:SEK 2,520.79

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