Lot 330: A RED SANDSTONE HEAD OF A FEMALE DEITY, CENTRAL INDIA, MATHURA, CIRCA 2ND CENTURY

his fragmentary carved head of a female deity or celestial being, such as a yakshi or apsara, is sculpted from mottled red Sikri sandstone. Originating from the Mathura region of India, the piece represents the Mathura school of the Kushan period, an artistic tradition that flourished contemporaneously with the Gandhara school. The face displays the characteristic stylistic features of the period, including full, slightly parted lips, a straight nose, and downcast almond-shaped eyes set beneath prominent, arched brows. The hair is intricately carved with fine parallel striations and is pulled away from the face, secured by a beaded diadem. The figure wears an ornate, lobed headdress, of which the central portion survives. The reverse of the fragment is rough-hewn and shows the natural, unworked texture of the red sandstone, suggesting it was originally part of a high-relief architectural frieze or stela designed for frontal display.

L: 9.5cm