Northern India – ancient Bengal

Set of three circular votive terracotta medallions, molded, North India, ancient Bengal, Chandraketugarh type, Shunga / Early Historic period, 2nd–1st century BCE. Beautiful set of three antique terracotta medallions, gathered on a modern metal base allowing the simultaneous presentation of their different compositions and surface variations. Each adopts a characteristic structure: a wide rounded circular rim, a central field slightly recessed, and a central raised boss, around which radiating molded decoration develops. The three specimens clearly belong to the same production tradition, while exhibiting differences in diameter, thickness, weight and relief. One of them is notably distinguished by a thickness of 2 cm and a weight of 44.2 g, substantially higher than the other two, without this difference breaking the typological coherence of the ensemble. The decorations combine zoomorphic, vegetal and probably anthropomorphic motifs, distributed around the center in several sectors. On the best-preserved reliefs, several animal silhouettes and plant elements remain clearly perceptible. The radiating construction around a central hub gives the compositions a strong graphic quality and may evoke a symbolic wheel, while preserving a cautious iconographic reading. Through their molding technique, their small size, their morphology and their decorative vocabulary, these pieces belong to the corpus of ancient Bengal and Chandraketugarh terracotta, generally attributed to the Early Historic / Shunga period, around the 2nd–1st centuries BCE. The surfaces show tones ranging from pink-beige to brownish gray. One of the medallions exhibits darker zones, gray-brown to blackish, particularly visible on part of the rim and on the reverse. These variations contribute to the material history specific to each piece. The reliefs retain good overall legibility despite ancient and progressive wear of the protruding parts. Small abrasions, some edge irregularities, fine superficial cracks as well as several linear traces visible on the reverses are noted. No through cracks or major structural loss is observed. The reverses are plainer and have a manual finish, with tonal and surface variations. The visible perforations correspond to the modern assembly on the base. Dimensions excluding the base: Medallion 1: Ø 5 cm × thickness 2 cm Medallion 2: Ø 4.6 cm × thickness 1.5 cm Medallion 3: Ø 5 cm × thickness 1.5 cm Individual weights: 44.2 g; 28.4 g; 31.6 g. Total weight excluding base: 104.2 g. Dimensions including base: H. 15 cm × L. 11 cm × D. 6 cm. Total weight including base: 366.8 g. Provenance: private Belgian collection, formed between 1979 and 2009. A coherent and decorative set of three ancient Bengal terracottas, whose common presentation particularly highlights the variations in relief, size and patina characteristic of each medallion. video link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/vgs4jaob57lzbzotk4b9m/AEr_G7oC4vEG7-xwMaIvbQw?rlkey=06843coh8q3n4j626mm11dofn&dl=0

Estimate:$396.44

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