{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O25025"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O25025/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BF2693/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BF2693/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006BF2693","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O25025/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O25025","accessionNumber":"IS.45-1988","objectType":"Figure","titles":[{"title":"Head of a Female Deity","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"The art of terracotta sculpture in India reached its peak during the Gupta period (4th-6th century). Large-scale relief panels, of which this head is a fragment, were used extensively to decorate the exterior walls of single-cell and superstructure brick temples, the earliest surviving form of free-standing temple in India. This was widely practised across north India, the most famous sites being those of Ahichchhatra and Bhitargaon in Uttar Pradesh. This female head wears an elaborate hair ornament and the large circular earrings typical of the Gupta period, and may be taken to represent a noble woman, probably a character in one of the dramas from the epic literature that were depicted in terracotta in inset panels on the exterior walls of early Gupta temples.  \r\n\r\nThis head of a female deity displays the full vitality of this style; she wears the large ring-type earrings (kundala) with a string of pendant pearls inset, and faceted head-ornament (tikka) worn in the centre-parting of her hair. The plasticity of terracotta allows a sureness of execution that gives a freshness rarely seen in stone sculpture. The fullness of the lips and the wide, expressive eyes, together with the characteristic continuous eyebrow ('like a bow'), display the qualities of the Gupta style at its most vital.","physicalDescription":"Head of woman, from an architectural relief panel.  An elegantly modelled head of a woman of high status, wearing a faceted head ornament (tikka) in the centre parting, large elliptical ear-plugs (kundala) with inset pendant pearls, and a continuous line eyebrow (\"like a bow\") characteristics of the mature Gupta style.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"terracotta","id":"AAT10669"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Terracotta","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"}],"styles":[{"text":"Gupta Period","id":"x32247"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2006BF2693"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES404217"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Head","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Uttar Pradesh","id":"x29845"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"5th Century","earliest":"0400-01-01","latest":"0500-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"26.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"18","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"13","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Bought from Spink & Son Limited for £5,000 in 1988","historicalContext":"The art of terracotta sculpture in India reached its peak during the Gupta period (4th-6th century). Large-scale relief panels, of which this head is a fragment, were used extensively to decorate the exterior walls of brick temples. This was widely practised across north India, the most famous sites being those of Ahichhatra and Bhitargaon in Uttar Pradesh. This female head wears an elaborate hair ornament and the large circular earrings  strung with pearls (kundala), typical of the Gupta period.","briefDescription":"Head of a female deity, terracotta, Uttar Pradesh, north India, 5th century","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Guy, John: 'Indian Temple Sculpture', London, V &A Publication 2007, p 35. pl. 35.\r\nISBN 971851775095\r\n"},{"reference":{"text":"L'escultura en el temples indis : l'art de la devoció : exposició organitzada per la Fundació \"La Caixa\" i el Victoria & Albert Museum, Londres. [Barcelona: Obra social, Fundació \"la Caixa\", c2007 Number: 9788476649466","id":"AUTH339669"},"details":"p.69, Cat.36","free":""}],"production":"Uttar Pradesh, north India","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"Hindu","id":"AAT73727"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"4. Head of a Goddess from an Architectural\r\nRelief Panel\r\n400–500\r\nGupta period\r\nTerracotta\r\nProbably northern India (Uttar Pradesh)\r\nMuseum no. IS.45-1988","date":{"text":"06/06/2011","earliest":"2011-06-06","latest":"2011-06-06"}}],"partNumbers":["IS.45-1988"],"accessionNumberNum":"45","accessionNumberPrefix":"IS","accessionYear":1988,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LU8250"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-07","recordCreationDate":"2000-02-13","availableToBook":false}}