Question

Bone, terracotta and metal can also be used for sculpture. Find out more about these.

Answer 1

Bone, terracotta, and metal were crucial materials in ancient Indian sculpting, providing alternatives to large stone monuments and reflecting diverse social and artistic traditions. While stone was largely used for royal and monumental architecture, these materials were utilised across different classes, ranging from royal luxury goods to everyday popular art. Historical details regarding their use in ancient Indian history include:

1. Bone and Ivory Sculptures
   1. Precious Craftsmanship: Ivory and bone carving were luxury crafts in ancient India.
   2. Sanchi Stupa Guilds: Ivory carvers were highly organised. An inscription at Sanchi records that a guild of ivory workers from Vidisha financed one of the main carved gateways.
   3. Intricate Artefacts: Craftsmen produced detailed combs, dice, handles, and small figurines discovered at Mauryan and Kushana sites.
2. Terracotta Sculptures
   1. Art of the Masses: Baked clay (terracotta) served as an accessible medium for ordinary people.
   2. Harappan Artefacts: Early examples include the iconic Mother Goddess figurines and realistic toy carts.
   3. Temple Panels: During the Gupta period, terracotta narrative panels decorated early brick temples, such as those at Bhitargaon.
3. Metal Sculptures
   1. Lost-Wax Technique: Metal icons were cast using the lost-wax process (cire perdue).
   2. Early Masterpieces: The bronze “Dancing Girl” from Mohenjodaro is the oldest known Indian metal sculpture.
   3. Religious Icons: Large metal images flourished later, including the colossal bronze Sultanganj Buddha and the globally renowned Chola Bronze Nataraja sculptures.