Weiner Mihályné szerk.: Az Iparművészeti Múzeum Évkönyvei 7. (Budapest, 1964)

HOPP FERENC MÚZEUM — MUSÉE FERENC HOPP - Tóth, Edit: Terracottas from the Gupta Period

find strong, short hands. This type also survived into the Gupta period where it provided a striking contrast with the long, slim arms and delicate modelling of the rest of the body. Height: 9 cm. Figure 12: statue of a child seated and placing the soles of its feet together. The left hand is on the thigh, while the right which holds a round object (probably a fruit) is raised to the mouth. Hair is short and there is a larger strand or a decoration over the forehead. He has bracelets, anklets, and around the neck a string of pearls. The body, large head, extended stomach, short legs all resemble a child, but the shortness and thickness of the hands and feet contrast sharply with the rest. In this case they provide a clue to its age. The round, pleasant face is smiling calmly, reminding us of the sitting drummer published by Agrawala. To a certain extent the antique affect characterizes the modelling of our piece.

11 It is reddish, more granular and similar to Mathura pieces. It was very likely made at the beginning of the Gupta period. Height: 8 cm. Part of the Indian terracottas are from methodical excavations of sites ranging over Northern India. The most significant, Besarh, previously Vaisâli, Räjghat north of Benares, Kausambi, Pawaya, previously Pädmaväti, Nagari, Taxila, Ahichchatra and Rüpar. On the basis of material from these sites an attempt was made to decide whether these statues were religious or secular in their purpose. Scholars have not reached an agreement and datas show that the terracottas had various functions. A. K. Coomaraswamy states 11 Agrawala, V. S. : Some terracottas, Pl. V. Fig. 15. Fig. 10. Torso of a young man