Origin: India Dimensions: 3.93" (10.0cm) high x 1.33" (3.4cm) wide Collection: Asian Art Style: Hindu Medium: Bronze

Origin: India Dimensions: 3.93" (10.0cm) high x 1.33" (3.4cm) wide Collection: Asian Art Style: Hindu Medium: Bronze   « Less

Origin: India Circa: 320 AD to 550 AD Dimensions: 4.3" (10.9cm) high x 6" (15.2cm) wide Collection: Asian Art Style: Gupta Medium: Clay

Origin: India Circa: 320 AD to 550 AD Dimensions: 4.3" (10.9cm) high x 6" (15.2cm) wide Collection: Asian Art Style: Gupta Medium: Clay   « Less

Origin: India Circa: 320 AD to 550 AD Dimensions: 4.62" (11.7cm) high x 2.55" (6.5cm) wide Collection: Asian Art Style: Gupta Medium: Clay

Origin: India Circa: 320 AD to 550 AD Dimensions: 4.62" (11.7cm) high x 2.55" (6.5cm) wide Collection: Asian Art Style: Gupta Medium: Clay   « Less

The Indus Valley civilization was rediscovered in 1920-21 when engraved seals were unearthed in the Punjab province of Pakistan at a site called Harappa, a name which is  More »

The Indus Valley civilization was rediscovered in 1920-21 when engraved seals were unearthed in the Punjab province of Pakistan at a site called Harappa, a name which is often used to describe the civilization as a whole. Subsequent excavations at Harappa revealed the size and complexity of this ancient city. Other sites were unearthed as well along the banks of the Indus River, including the equally large city of Mohenjodaro. Through archaeological and historical research, we can now say for certain that a highly developed urban civilization flourished in the Indian subcontinent over five thousand years ago. Though the Indus Valley script remains undeciphered, the numerous seals, statuary, and pottery discovered during excavations, not to mention the urban ruins, have enabled scholars to construct a reasonably plausible account of the Indus Valley civilization.Some kind of centralized state, and certainly fairly extensive town planning, is suggested by the layout of the great cities of Harappa and Mohenjodaro. The same kind of burnt brick appears to have been used in the construction of buildings in cities that were several hundred miles apart. The weights and measures also show a very considerable regularity, suggesting that these disparate cities spread out across a vast desert shared a common culture. The Indus Valley people domesticated animals, and harvested various crops, such as cotton, sesame, peas, barley, and cotton. Indus Valley seals have been excavated in far away cities such as Sumer, suggesting that a wealthy merchant class existed, engaged in extensive trading throughout the subcontinent and the Near East.Other than the archaeological ruins of Harappa and Mohenjodaro, these seals provide the most detailed clues about the character of the Indus Valley people. Bulls and elephants appear on these seals, but the horned bull, most scholars agree, should not be taken to be congruent with Nandi, for the horned bull appears in numerous Central Asian figures as well. The women portrayed on the seals are shown with elaborate coiffures, sporting heavy jewelry, suggesting that the Indus Valley people were an urbane people with cultivated tastes and a refined aesthetic sensibility. A few thousand seals have been discovered in Indus Valley cities, showing some 400 pictographs: too few in number for the language to have been ideographic, and too many for the language to have been phonetic. - (LO.556)   « Less

The Indus Valley civilization was rediscovered in 1920-21 when engraved seals were unearthed in the Punjab province of Pakistan at a site called Harappa, a name which is  More »

The Indus Valley civilization was rediscovered in 1920-21 when engraved seals were unearthed in the Punjab province of Pakistan at a site called Harappa, a name which is often used to describe the civilization as a whole. Subsequent excavations at Harappa revealed the size and complexity of this ancient city. Other sites were unearthed as well along the banks of the Indus River, including the equally large city of Mohenjodaro. Through archaeological and historical research, we can now say for certain that a highly developed urban civilization flourished in the Indian subcontinent over five thousand years ago. Though the Indus Valley script remains undeciphered, the numerous seals, statuary, and pottery discovered during excavations, not to mention the urban ruins, have enabled scholars to construct a reasonably plausible account of the Indus Valley civilization.Some kind of centralized state, and certainly fairly extensive town planning, is suggested by the layout of the great cities of Harappa and Mohenjodaro. The same kind of burnt brick appears to have been used in the construction of buildings in cities that were several hundred miles apart. The weights and measures also show a very considerable regularity, suggesting that these disparate cities spread out across a vast desert shared a common culture. The Indus Valley people domesticated animals, and harvested various crops, such as cotton, sesame, peas, barley, and cotton. Indus Valley seals have been excavated in far away cities such as Sumer, suggesting that a wealthy merchant class existed, engaged in extensive trading throughout the subcontinent and the Near East.Other than the archaeological ruins of Harappa and Mohenjodaro, these seals provide the most detailed clues about the character of the Indus Valley people. Bulls and elephants appear on these seals, but the horned bull, most scholars agree, should not be taken to be congruent with Nandi, for the horned bull appears in numerous Central Asian figures as well. The women portrayed on the seals are shown with elaborate coiffures, sporting heavy jewelry, suggesting that the Indus Valley people were an urbane people with cultivated tastes and a refined aesthetic sensibility. A few thousand seals have been discovered in Indus Valley cities, showing some 400 pictographs: too few in number for the language to have been ideographic, and too many for the language to have been phonetic. - (SF.321 )   « Less

The Indus Valley civilization was rediscovered in 1920-21 when engraved seals were unearthed in the Punjab province of Pakistan at a site called Harappa, a name which is  More »

The Indus Valley civilization was rediscovered in 1920-21 when engraved seals were unearthed in the Punjab province of Pakistan at a site called Harappa, a name which is often used to describe the civilization as a whole. Subsequent excavations at Harappa revealed the size and complexity of this ancient city. Other sites were unearthed as well along the banks of the Indus River, including the equally large city of Mohenjodaro. Through archaeological and historical research, we can now say for certain that a highly developed urban civilization flourished in the Indian subcontinent over five thousand years ago. Though the Indus Valley script remains undeciphered, the numerous seals, statuary, and pottery discovered during excavations, not to mention the urban ruins, have enabled scholars to construct a reasonably plausible account of the Indus Valley civilization.Some kind of centralized state, and certainly fairly extensive town planning, is suggested by the layout of the great cities of Harappa and Mohenjodaro. The same kind of burnt brick appears to have been used in the construction of buildings in cities that were several hundred miles apart. The weights and measures also show a very considerable regularity, suggesting that these disparate cities spread out across a vast desert shared a common culture. The Indus Valley people domesticated animals, and harvested various crops, such as cotton, sesame, peas, barley, and cotton. Indus Valley seals have been excavated in far away cities such as Sumer, suggesting that a wealthy merchant class existed, engaged in extensive trading throughout the subcontinent and the Near East.Other than the archaeological ruins of Harappa and Mohenjodaro, these seals provide the most detailed clues about the character of the Indus Valley people. Bulls and elephants appear on these seals, but the horned bull, most scholars agree, should not be taken to be congruent with Nandi, for the horned bull appears in numerous Central Asian figures as well. The women portrayed on the seals are shown with elaborate coiffures, sporting heavy jewelry, suggesting that the Indus Valley people were an urbane people with cultivated tastes and a refined aesthetic sensibility. A few thousand seals have been discovered in Indus Valley cities, showing some 400 pictographs: too few in number for the language to have been ideographic, and too many for the language to have been phonetic. - (OS.037 )   « Less

The Indus Valley civilization was rediscovered in 1920-21 when engraved seals were unearthed in the Punjab province of Pakistan at a site called Harappa, a name which is  More »

The Indus Valley civilization was rediscovered in 1920-21 when engraved seals were unearthed in the Punjab province of Pakistan at a site called Harappa, a name which is often used to describe the civilization as a whole. Subsequent excavations at Harappa revealed the size and complexity of this ancient city. Other sites were unearthed as well along the banks of the Indus River, including the equally large city of Mohenjodaro. Through archaeological and historical research, we can now say for certain that a highly developed urban civilization flourished in the Indian subcontinent over five thousand years ago. Though the Indus Valley script remains undeciphered, the numerous seals, statuary, and pottery discovered during excavations, not to mention the urban ruins, have enabled scholars to construct a reasonably plausible account of the Indus Valley civilization.Some kind of centralized state, and certainly fairly extensive town planning, is suggested by the layout of the great cities of Harappa and Mohenjodaro. The same kind of burnt brick appears to have been used in the construction of buildings in cities that were several hundred miles apart. The weights and measures also show a very considerable regularity, suggesting that these disparate cities spread out across a vast desert shared a common culture. The Indus Valley people domesticated animals, and harvested various crops, such as cotton, sesame, peas, barley, and cotton. Indus Valley seals have been excavated in far away cities such as Sumer, suggesting that a wealthy merchant class existed, engaged in extensive trading throughout the subcontinent and the Near East.Other than the archaeological ruins of Harappa and Mohenjodaro, these seals provide the most detailed clues about the character of the Indus Valley people. Bulls and elephants appear on these seals, but the horned bull, most scholars agree, should not be taken to be congruent with Nandi, for the horned bull appears in numerous Central Asian figures as well. The women portrayed on the seals are shown with elaborate coiffures, sporting heavy jewelry, suggesting that the Indus Valley people were an urbane people with cultivated tastes and a refined aesthetic sensibility. A few thousand seals have been discovered in Indus Valley cities, showing some 400 pictographs: too few in number for the language to have been ideographic, and too many for the language to have been phonetic. - (OS.046 )   « Less

The Indus Valley civilisation was re-discovered in the 1920s when excavations in Pakistan and northwestern India revealed the existence of sophisticated urban settlements  More »

The Indus Valley civilisation was re-discovered in the 1920s when excavations in Pakistan and northwestern India revealed the existence of sophisticated urban settlements which flourished c. 2600- 1900 B.C. These developed in the same period as city-states in Egypt and Mesopotamia but along very different lines. Whereas the former were dominated by royal and religious leaders, the Indus Valley cities seem to have been run by a wealthy mercantile elite. Society was organised according to the demands of trade with regular town planning, a standardised system of weights and measures and a developed division of labour. Burial practices also differed markedly from other ancient civilisations. The deceased were interred in wood coffins with pottery vessels and simple ornaments but valuable objects of gold, silver or precious stones were bequeathed to living relatives and therefore kept in circulation.Long-distance trade was important to the economy and exotic goods were transported by pack animals, riverboats and bullock carts. Indus Valley seals have been found across the Near East and surviving artefacts, such as this incised shell, testify to the movement of goods over a wide area. There were three main sources for marine shell: the Gulf of Kutch and Saurashtra to the east, the coast west of Karachi and the Omani coast. Complete shells as well as partly processed shell ornaments were traded to the large cities where they were finished according to local specifications by highly skilled artisans. The most common objects manufactured from shell were bangles, ritual ladles and inlays for wooden furniture or stone sculpture. This piece is slightly unusual in that it has a carefully worked hole in the centre. It may have been worn and suspended from a string or attached to a larger structure. Shell containers were also used for cosmetic pigments. As these functions imply, this material was confined to high status items intended to display the wealth and taste of their owners.the subject matter of the incised design is religious. As no temple-like structures have been excavated it seems likely that communal worship took place in the open air or beneath the trees that were held to be sacred. To the left of the shell a horned deity stands in a pipal tree with triangular shaped leaves. Below this, to the right, kneel two worshippers with avian faces and horned headdresses. Along the bottom edge is a procession of seven standing figures with plumed headdresses and tunic-like apparel. They may represent priests or worshippers. To the right of the pipal tree is a curious animal with the head of a bird but the body of a bull or ram. A more naturalistic bird is depicted in flight above the pipal tree. Several script signs also appear, for example below the base of the tree. Their meaning is unclear as the Indus Valley script is yet to be deciphered.The detail of the carving is astounding, as is the complexity of the design. This is a unique object that gives a fascinating insight into one of the earliest urban cultures in the ancient world. (AM) - (AM.0362 )   « Less

The Indus Valley civilization was rediscovered in 1920-21 when engraved seals were unearthed in the Punjab province of Pakistan at a site called Harappa, a name which is  More »

The Indus Valley civilization was rediscovered in 1920-21 when engraved seals were unearthed in the Punjab province of Pakistan at a site called Harappa, a name which is often used to describe the civilization as a whole. Subsequent excavations at Harappa revealed the size and complexity of this ancient city. Other sites were unearthed as well along the banks of the Indus River, including the equally large city of Mohenjodaro. Through archaeological and historical research, we can now say for certain that a highly developed urban civilization flourished in the Indian subcontinent over five thousand years ago. Though the Indus Valley script remains undeciphered, the numerous seals, statuary, and pottery discovered during excavations, not to mention the urban ruins, have enabled scholars to construct a reasonably plausible account of the Indus Valley civilization.Some kind of centralized state, and certainly fairly extensive town planning, is suggested by the layout of the great cities of Harappa and Mohenjodaro. The same kind of burnt brick appears to have been used in the construction of buildings in cities that were several hundred miles apart. The weights and measures also show a very considerable regularity, suggesting that these disparate cities spread out across a vast desert shared a common culture. The Indus Valley people domesticated animals, and harvested various crops, such as cotton, sesame, peas, barley, and cotton. Indus Valley seals have been excavated in far away cities such as Sumer, suggesting that a wealthy merchant class existed, engaged in extensive trading throughout the subcontinent and the Near East.Considering the size of this civilization, it is puzzling that no monumental art remains, glorifying the names of the powerful rulers or wealthy merchants who could have afforded to construct such memorials. Instead, we find an emphasis on small, elegant art and sophisticated craft technology. Three-dimensional representations of living beings in the Harappan world are confined to, with a few exceptions, small terracotta figurings. Ranging in size from a few inches to a foot in height, the anthropomorphic and animal terracotta figurines from Harappa and other Indus Civilization sites offer a rich reflection of Harappan life in the Bronze Age. Traditionally, the terracotta figurines have been described as toys. Other objects such as carts, wheels, and cots discovered alongside the figurines has only reinforced this notion. However, whether these figures were idols meant to be worshipped or merely charming representations of daily life meant to entertain children remains debatable.Other than the archaeological ruins of Harappa and Mohenjodaro, these seals provide the most detailed clues about the character of the Indus Valley people. Bulls and elephants appear on these seals, but the horned bull, most scholars agree, should not be taken to be congruent with Nandi, for the horned bull appears in numerous Central Asian figures as well. The women portrayed on the seals are shown with elaborate coiffures, sporting heavy jewelry, suggesting that the Indus Valley people were an urbane people with cultivated tastes and a refined aesthetic sensibility. A few thousand seals have been discovered in Indus Valley cities, showing some 400 pictographs: too few in number for the language to have been ideographic, and too many for the language to have been phonetic.The Zebu bull, an ox with a prominent hump that had been domesticated in the east since the earliest days of history,represents power, strength and nobility. In particular, the humped bull has been a prominent theme in the pottery and decorative arts of the Indus Valley civilization. The Zebu bull, the leader of the herd, the protector and procreator of the species, likely symbolizes a powerful clan or top official from Harappa or Mohenjodaro. Valued for its milk, its flesh and its hide, the bull was considered to be one of the sacrificial offerings most pleasing to the gods. A sculpture like this one may have once stood in an ancient temple as a substitute for the real creature. This particular terracotta sculpture of a bull bears a strong resemblance to similar representations of Zebu bulls from the ancient Near East. Perhaps these ancient cultures once shared similar beliefs. The head of the bull is emphasized; the horns are wide and prominent. The creatures legs are thick and sturdy. The pointed hump emerges from the back. Dashed lines created by lightly poking the wet clay with a stylus divide the bull’s body and head into various segments. For a discussion on zoomorphic figurines see: J-F. Jarrige, Les Cites Oubliees de l'Indus, Guimet Museum, 1988. - (LO.557)   « Less

The Indus Civilization still represents very much an archaeological conundrum: an ancient civilization with a yet-to be deciphered writing system, a mysterious monumental  More »

The Indus Civilization still represents very much an archaeological conundrum: an ancient civilization with a yet-to be deciphered writing system, a mysterious monumental architecture, no so-called 'monumental' art, a puzzling decline, and little evidence of the identity of its direct descendants. In a civilization extending over an area so vast, one would expect to find monumental art and/or architectural symbols of power displaying the names of the powerful. Instead, the emphasis is placed on small, elegant art and sophisticated craft technology.Three-dimensional representations of living beings in the Harappan world are confined to a few stone and bronze statues and some small objects crafted in faience, stone, and other materials - with one important exception. Ranging variously in size, the anthropomorphic and animal terracotta figurines the Indus Civilization sites depict life as seen by the Harappan people in the Bronze Age.The earliest animal figurines from Harappa date back to the Early Harappan (Ravi Phase, Period 1 and Kot Diji Phase, Period 2) and mostly depict zebu bulls. Yet many different animals were indeed portrayed during the Early Harappan phase, including rams, pigs, dogs, bears, monkeys, birds, rhinos. The animal here portrayed would seem to recall an anteater. The dotted applied decoration on the front and hind legs is commonly found on depictions of rhinos from Harappa. The gentle curve of the neck and the applied ears and eyes enhance the realism while giving this small animal an unexpected sweetness.For comparable examples see: J-F Jarrige, Les Cites Oubliees de l'Indus, Guimet Museum, 1988. - (LO.503)   « Less