Figure holding a mirror

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On display

V&A South Kensington
South Asia Gallery, Room 41

Artist/Maker	Unknown
Place of origin	Taxila (made)

The figure stands on a lotus pedestal, holding the mirror in her left hand. A small figure of a woman swathed in a sari which clings closely at her breasts. She holda a mirror in her left hand and right hand is rested on her hip.

Object details

Category	Buddhism
Object type	Sculpture
Title	Figure holding a mirror (generic title)
Materials and techniques	Gold, with lac-filled base Gold
Brief description	Figure holding a mirror, gold with lac-filled base, Punjab, 1st-2nd century AD.
Physical description	The figure stands on a lotus pedestal, holding the mirror in her left hand. A small figure of a woman swathed in a sari which clings closely at her breasts. She holda a mirror in her left hand and right hand is rested on her hip.
Dimensions	Height: 2in Width: 0.75in
Object history	Purchased from Maj. Gen. H.L.Haughton, CB, CIC, CBE, 1948.
Historical context	This diminutive figure may have decorated a hair pin or served as the finial to a hand mirror of the type being held by the figure itself. The figure reflects the stylistic cross-currents at work in the north-western region in the Kusana period : the posture and dress are clearly Hellenistic in inspiration and she stands on an Indian style lotus base.
Production	Taxila (?), Punjab, Pakistan Buddhist (?)
Subjects depicted	Buddhist Figure
Bibliographic references	H. Buchtal, " The Haughton Collection of Gandhara Sculpture ", The Burlington Magazine, Vol LXXXVI, 1945, p.66 and pl.1A Guy, J., and Swallow, D., (eds). ‘Arts of India: 1550-1900’. London : Victoria and Albert Museum, 1990. ISBN 1851770224. p.23, no.7. J. C. Harle in S.Stronge (ed) A Golden Treasury. Jewellery of the Indian Subcontinent, Victoria and Albert Museum / Mapin, 1988, no.2
Collection	South & South East Asia Collection
Accession number	IS.13-1948

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Record created	February 13, 2000
Record URL	https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O25042/figure-holding-a-mirror-sculpture-unknown/

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