Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c28.s1.t2.1

v1.c28.s1.t2.1

The above examples illustrate the art traditions and the choice of materials during the centuries immediately following the demise of Gautama Buddha. The traditions went on without any break or interruption. The author of this monograph had the opportunity of visiting a beautiful display of ancient Indian art objects in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston during June 1990. The collection was chronological and emphasized specific materials used for the artefacts. Some of the exhibited items are recorded in Table 20.1. The tabulated data illustrate how different materials terracotta, sandstone, marble, schist, schistose marble, ivory, metal alloys (to be discussed later in detail), soapstone, jade etc. were used in India in different epochs and locations to produce diverse artefacts and works of art.