The art and architecture of India - Buddhist, Hindu, Jain (Art Ebook)

THE EARLY ANDHRA PERIOD
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what has been suggested elsewhere, namely,
that monumental sculpture in early India was
simply a transference of the style and technique
of work in perishable media, like ivory and
wood, to stone. The elaborate jewellery worn by
the central figure, notably the 'stockings' of
metal rings, give us some idea of the nature of
this type of personal adornment in Early Andhra
times.
Related to this work are some of the superb
ivory plaques found at Begram in Afghanistan. 9
They originally decorated a massive throne.
Certain examples, like the oft-repeated motif of
women standing under a torana [56], are again
suggestive of the Safichi style in the full, rather
squat canon of proportion and the luxurious elaboration
of surface detail. The carving in its
depth and crispness is the prototype for the
work wrought in stone by the ivory-workers of
Bhilsa who, according to one inscription at
Safichi, dedicated a gateway and presumably
their services as well.
The close affinities between ivory carving
and monumental sculpture in the early centuries
of Indian art may be supplemented by further
comparisons between terracotta sculpture and
the reliefs of the Early Classic Period. So, for
example, a small circular plaque from Patna
with a representation of Surya in his chariot
[57] provides a very exact parallel for this same
subject as carved at Bhaja [36]. Even the treatment
of this relief on a tiny scale approximates
the suggestion of the emergence of the forms
from the background. The medallion shape of
this object of course suggests a favourite composition
of the early Buddhist railings.
Another terracotta relief from Kausambi [58],
though of a somewhat later period, represents a
royal couple embracing on a throne. The background
is strewn with rosette-like flowers. Both
the types of the figures and the delicate animation
of the surface by shallow linear engraving
cannot fail to suggest the beautiful relief from
Pitalkhora [40] of a similar subject.
57. Terracotta plaque from Patna.
Patna, Museum
58. Terracotta plaque from Kausambi.
New Delhi, National Museum