Unknown Artist
- Title
- Head of a woman
- Place of origin
-
North India →
India
- Year
- circa 7th century
- Media category
- Sculpture
- Materials used
- dark sandstone
- Dimensions
-
11.5 x 7.5 x 8.2cm object; 16.0 x 7.5 x 8.2cm object with stand
- Signature & date
- Not signed. Not dated.
- Credit
- Bequest of Alex Biancardi 2000
- Accession number
- 23.2000
- Location
- Not on display
- Further information
This head of a woman, carved in very high relief, represents a portrait, perhaps of a noble or aristocratic woman, perhaps a donor to a temple or monastery. The woman's upswept hair is fashioned in an intricate style of snail-shell curls. Her elongated earlobes are ornamented with heavy wheel-like earrings, and the three creases that delineate her neck are an indication of her distinguished status. These stylistic elements, drawn from the Gupta style, alongside other facial features including her wide almonds eyes, the double incised arching eyebrows, long nose, full lips and narrow rounded chin would suggest a date in the transitional period following the Gupta period, however still influenced by the Gupta style.
Asian Art Department, AGNSW, February 2000
