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Not on display

Figure

2nd century-5th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

A small carving of a seated female figure holding a monkey, the head of which is missing. The carving has straight edges along the top and bottom but is carved along the form of the figure in her setting on the sides. She is seated on a rounded stool decorated with a studded diaper pattern. She turns her head towards the small animal seated in the crook of her left elbow. Her right hand is held up holding what appears to be a fruit, possibly a jackfruit, with its textured skin carved in segmented lines. Her head is set against a background of further carved lines possibly denoting fruits and foliage. She wears a large hooped earrring in her right ear with bangles on her wrists and a long segmented necklace which falls between her breasts. Her garment is shown falling off her right shoulder and is caught up under her breasts and at her waist before falling to the ground in folds over her legs. She sits with her left leg slanting back from her knee while the right one is turned outwards with the bare foot resting against the stool, just touching the ground with her toes. The features of her face appear largely rubbed away. leaving her with a vestigal right eye above a flattened nose and a smiling mouth.

Object details

Category
Object type
Materials and techniques
Schist
Brief description
Seated female figure, 2nd-5th century, schist, Gandhara.
Physical description
A small carving of a seated female figure holding a monkey, the head of which is missing. The carving has straight edges along the top and bottom but is carved along the form of the figure in her setting on the sides. She is seated on a rounded stool decorated with a studded diaper pattern. She turns her head towards the small animal seated in the crook of her left elbow. Her right hand is held up holding what appears to be a fruit, possibly a jackfruit, with its textured skin carved in segmented lines. Her head is set against a background of further carved lines possibly denoting fruits and foliage. She wears a large hooped earrring in her right ear with bangles on her wrists and a long segmented necklace which falls between her breasts. Her garment is shown falling off her right shoulder and is caught up under her breasts and at her waist before falling to the ground in folds over her legs. She sits with her left leg slanting back from her knee while the right one is turned outwards with the bare foot resting against the stool, just touching the ground with her toes. The features of her face appear largely rubbed away. leaving her with a vestigal right eye above a flattened nose and a smiling mouth.
Dimensions
  • Height: 2.5in
  • Width: 1.875in
Credit line
Given by Maj. Gen. H. L. Haughton CB, CIE, CBE
Object history
This carving was part of the Haughton Collection made by Major General H.L. Haughton, which contained two other figures of a similar type, IS.14-1948 and IS.505-1950, both of which represented female musicians.
Production
Sahri Bahlol, Gandhara.
Collection
Accession number
IS.507-1950

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Record createdMay 30, 2002
Record URL
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