56 - Gupta Head terracotta India 4-6th c Buddha
1500-4000 €
Gupta Head terracotta India
320 AD-575 AD.
Height: 16cm Width: 9cm Depth: 9cm
Expert appraisal and surface analysis by me. See photo of the TL QED file QED 1947/BC-0801 dated 11/28/2019, between 1500 and 2000 years ago.
Expert appraisal by the Daffos-Estournel appraisal firm on the occasion of the sale of 11/2018
The Gupta period is often likened to a classical golden age of Indian culture due to remarkable ancient achievements in mathematics, astronomy, literature, and theater, as well as sculpture and painting.
The Gupta Empire is also characterized by a period of great religious tolerance. In addition to regional gods like Surya, the three major religions are present: Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism.
In Hinduism, Vishnu is especially honored and is most often represented in Gupta art, along with the sun goddess Surya, whom he gradually supplanted. However, there are also some representations of Shiva (much less frequently).
This very rare and beautiful small stucco head of museum quality from the Gupta kingdom can be attributed to the Sarnath workshop
At the beginning of the Gupta reign, the artists of Mathura were at the origin of all production, although the Gupta stylistics emerged despite traits still strongly imbued with previous eras (Gandhara, etc.).
From the second quarter of the 5th century, a shift of classical art centers towards the east of the country emerged, and the Sarnath workshop began to produce their own standards, which, while being oriental variants of the Gupta style, nonetheless retained grace and serenity (the Golden Age of Classical India: the Gupta Empire).
Two very similar pieces are presented in the book: a masterpiece from the Ganges Delta (p. 139) and a full length Surya from the Sarnath school (p. 141). This head alone does not allow us to determine which deity is represented and whether it is a deity. In any case, this superb piece shows the degree of refinement achieved in terracotta work duringthe Gupta period
Commission fees of only 20% + inhouse shipment available
