Northern India – ancient Bengal

Set of three circular votive medallions in molded terracotta, Northern India, ancient Bengal, Chandraketugarh type, Shunga/Early Historic period, 2nd–1st century BCE. A fine, coherent set of three small ancient terracotta medallions, gathered on a modern metal base specially adapted for presentation. Each piece adopts the same general structure: a wide rounded circular rim, a central field slightly recessed, and a prominent central knob, around which a radially organized molded decoration unfolds. The compositions are close without being identical, with variations in design, relief depth, and size that indicate several mold variants belonging to the same production tradition. The decoration combines zoomorphic, vegetal, and probably anthropomorphic motifs, arranged in sectors around the center. Several animal silhouettes in profile as well as vegetal elements remain discernible on the best-preserved examples. The overall arrangement evokes a small symbolic or cosmological wheel, while maintaining a cautious iconographic reading. By virtue of their molding technique, small size, radial structure, and decorative vocabulary, these medallions belong to the vast corpus of ancient Bengal and Chandraketugarh terracottas, traditionally placed in the Early Historic/Shunga period, around the 2nd–1st centuries BCE. The surfaces show tones ranging from pink-beige to gray-brown, with natural color variations. One of the three pieces carries a darker hue on part of the rim and reverse. The reliefs show gentle, irregular wear, with minor peripheral abrasions and a few surface micro-cracks. No major structural damage is visible. The reverses are simpler and show a hand-finished quality with surface differences consistent with the pieces’ antiquity. The perforations visible on the reverse correspond to the modern mounting on the base. Dimensions excluding base: Medallion 1: Ø 4.7 cm × thickness 1.5 cm Medallion 2: Ø 4.5 cm × thickness 1.6 cm Medallion 3: Ø 4.7 cm × thickness 1.7 cm Individual weights: 28 g; 30 g; 31.7 g. Total weight excluding base: 89.7 g. Dimensions including base: H. 14 cm × L. 11 cm × D. 6 cm. Total weight including base: 352.2 g. Provenance: private Belgian collection, formed between 1979 and 2009. A harmonious and highly decorative set of three ancient Bengal terracotta pieces, whose common presentation especially highlights the variations in relief, patina, and composition characteristic of each medallion. video link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/k7pht3kc7mml5vtokuy5s/AFtJoDzLwWr4vUOokNciY70?rlkey=w7p9u7zotbcqqbtjbztmu62wd&dl=0

Estimate:$396.44

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