Head of a Male (Primary Title)

Unknown (Artist)

2nd–3rd century
Indian
red terracotta
India,Uttar Pradesh,probably Mathura vicinity,
Overall: 3 × 2 1/2 × 2 1/2 in. (7.62 × 6.35 × 6.35 cm)
92.19
(Together with 92.17)
Terra-cotta continued to be an important sculptural medium for many centuries in the Ganges Valley. These two heads were produced not far from the site where the Shunga-period plaques were crafted. Though their scale has increased dramatically and their features are more deeply articulated, these Kushan-period sculptures still seem to have been made with the use of a mold. Certain features, like the eyes and details of the headdresses, were incised after the heads wereremoved from the mold but before they were fired.
Kushan Period
Numbers in blue evident on reverse, lower left corner are illegible; adhesive sticker on bottom of mount: "V.M.F.A. / Richmond".
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Edward W. M. Bryant
Image released via Creative Commons CC-BY-NC

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