3rd C ANTIQUE RARE TERRA COTTA KUBERA INDIA HINDU (01/30/2008)

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3rd C ANTIQUE RARE TERRA COTTA KUBERA INDIA HINDU

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3rd C ANTIQUE RARE TERRA COTTA KUBERA INDIA HINDU

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Sold Date: 01/30/2008
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Ethnic, Folk & Native American Art

THISIS AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE HAND SCULPTED TERRACOTTA BAKED CLAY FIGURE DEPICTING GOD OF WEALTH KUBERA WITH HIS WIFE YAKSHINI . THIS PLAQUE HAS BEEN CAKED IN LAYERS OF DIRT AND DUST OVER THE CENTURIES FROM MAGADHA, BIHAR THAT DATES BACK TO THE 3rd CENTURY AD .
Theterracotta art does not seem to have flourished in the Deccan except once when the Satavahanas (circa 230 B.C. - 240 A.D) were ruling over this region. They were a mighty power and their empire, which was spread over a large part of the peninsula was one of the largest known to Indian history.
The technique employed by the Satavahana artists was entirely different from what was in vogue in the Sunga period. It was a highly specialized technique which produced terracottas in the round, like free standing sculptures. As against the single mould used by the Sunga artist , two different moulds, one for the front and the other for the back were used. A thin layer if clay was pressed in each of the moulds, and both the parts were joined together by a fine ribbon of clay and touched up. Some of the Satavahna terracottas have holes in places which were apparently intended for letting out the hot expanded air that resulted from baking these masterworks.
Some terracottas also indicate the use of a double mould fitted in a master cover. This was indicated by a thin line at the joint. This technique, which was highly specialized, does not appear to have been used elsew in the country. More interestingly it does not appear to have evolved locally but is supposed to have been imported from the Roman emprie w is was in vogue at the time.
A close look at this sculpture will reveal an exquisitely beautiful carving of LORD KUBERA by an artist whose hand exuded a delicate and spiritual touch. He is depicted with his beautiful wife Yakshi holding up his famous mug. Although the sculpture only depicts the top half of this statue it is mostly likely one that portrayed him in his classic lounging pose seated amongst his treasures amongst his natural habitat as can be seen from the gorgeous etching of a palm tree that rises up from behind the two as he is said to have performed austerities for a thousand years and so in reward for this Brahma , the Creator,bestowed upon him immortality and made him god of wealth and guardian of the earth and it was his discretion ton whom he would like to bless wealth on henceforth according to their destiny.
BECAUSE OF THE RARITY AND WORKMANSHIP OF THIS MASTERWORK PERIOD PIECE I HAVE SET A RESERVE PRICE ON HER HOWEVER A REASONABLE ONE SO THAT EVERYONE HAS THE CHANCE TO BRING HER TO THEIR COLLECTION AND HOMES THIS YEAR- I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST OF LUCK.
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Condition: excellent as show above , slight chips, dirt and cracks cover the work as is expected with an ancient work such as this

HYDERABAD INDIAN ARTS COLLECTION

This is a Museum Quality Sculpture.

Estimated value - $3,700

We are proud to offer only genuine 100% guaranteed ancient art. We encourage the successful bidder to show this to an expert for peace of mind.

DIMENSIONS
10 inches tall
2 ft 4 inches around
10.3 inches wide at base

A BRIEF HISTORY OF TERRACOTTA ART

The Terracotta Art has often been described as the poor man's art. This may hold good in the case of the art of the majority of countries, but not w India is concerned. The ancient Indian potter-artist had to cater to one and all, the prince and the pauper, the merchant and the priest and to men and women from every strata of society. The ancient Indian potter-artist hence was extremely busy in fashioning clay figurines day in and day out with such a heavy demand for his wares. This is amply borne out by the hundreds of figurines that have turned up at ancient sites in the country. The thematic range of the terracotta art is tfore much more fascinating than that of the stone sculpture. Stylistically, t is a close corres...