Ancient India – Western Bengal

Rare fragment of a moulded terracotta figurative plaque representing a female figure of the type called **Pañchachūḍā**, linked to the artistic tradition of **Chandraketugarh, in West Bengal**. The figure is depicted frontally, with a face of full volumes framed by **large circular ear ornaments**. She wears a rich chest ornament and above all a spectacular monumental hairstyle adorned with ray-like elements, traditionally interpreted as pins or weapon-shaped attributes. This type of female figure is one of the most characteristic groups of Chandraketugarh’s terracotta works. The exact identification of these figures remains debated in specialist literature: they have notably been linked to the Yakṣī and are frequently designated under the term **Pañchachūḍā**. Here this term is used as a typological designation and not as a definite identification of a particular deity. The piece belongs to the artistic horizon of **Ancient India, ancient historical period / post-Mauryan – Śuṅga up to the early Kushan era**, with a dating placed between the **2nd century BCE and the 1st century CE**. The plaque was made by **uniface moulded terracotta**; the reverse, more crude, shows irregularities and smoothing traces typical of this manufacturing process. Despite its fragmentary state, the preserved portion is particularly interesting since it precisely includes the most significant elements of the type: **face, hairstyle, ray-emitting attributes, large earrings and torso ornamentation**. The surface shows ancient wear, abrasions, small losses and deposits in the hollows compatible with the object's age. No major restoration or modern reconstitution is visible. Presented on a **modern metal base**. **Important – Thermoluminescence:** no thermoluminescence (TL) analysis has been performed on this work. The attribution, dating and authenticity assessment rely on physical and macroscopic examination of the piece, its manufacturing technique, study of its surfaces and conservation state, and comparison with documented archaeological, museum and scientific corpora. **Provenance:** from an old private Belgian collection of R. M. (1933–2023), then by succession.** **Dimensions of the fragment:** 7.3 × 8.7 × 2.2 cm. **Weight:** 164.3 g. video link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/wk89z7ukszma5jopc5oct/APixhrhRKfGe9mS0R3AFFw8?rlkey=ismt1xfp6g2261v3rzfm6hn2e&dl=0

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