An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v2.c37.290

v2.c37.290

The terracotta figurines both human and animal are datable from the 3rd century B.C. to the 12th century A.D. A handmade torso of the mother-goddess [12.6] in grey and an elephant bearing the NBPW polish are Mauryan. A plaque depicting Gaja-Lakṣmī is in the typical Śuṅga style, the other figurines of the same period being those of a standing female wearing trefoil head-dress and a plaque depicting a standing *Mithuna*. A few heads, crude and of coarse fabric, belong to the Kushan period. Naigameṣa figures, both male and female, with typical goat-like face and ears, stumpy limbs and the body rendered by incised lines and circlets, are hand-modelled, some specimen with traces of red slip. The female figurines have prominent breasts and are rich in decoration. A few examples in both the forms show a perforated protrusion at the top of the head indicating that they were kept suspended. These figurines are assignable to a date bracket between 450 and 650. Mother-and-child (*aṅkadhātrī*) figurines prepared from a single shallow mould hold the child in the left arm and wear a trefoil head-dress. Another standing female figure in the same style has the left arm resting on the hip. *Dampatī* figurines are also made from a shallow mould. Figurines of the standing warriors hold sword in the right hand. All these are dated between 550 and 650.