Ancient Indian Shunga Terracotta Votive Plaque of Female Goddess

Mauryan or Shunga Period, c. 200–80 BC, possibly Chandraketugarh, Bengal, India

A fascinating small mold-made terracotta plaque depicting a richly adorned female figure in high relief—possibly a goddess, yakshi, or celestial apsara, rendered in the characteristic voluptuous style of the Shunga period. Her curvaceous form, emphasized in the hips and subtle tribhanga stance, reflects early Indian ideals of divine femininity and fecundity.

The figure's serene, though now partially worn, smiling face is framed by an elaborate headdress adorned with symbolic weapon forms, worn like ceremonial hairpins. Her elaborate jewelry includes massive disc earrings, a broad necklace collar, stacked bangles, and a heavy girdle draped over a sheer robe—each element modeled with impressive clarity and symbolic weight.

This iconography aligns with figures identified as Panchachuda—a goddess or celestial female from Shunga period lore—blending characteristics of fertility goddesses, yakshis, and divine consorts. Comparable terracotta reliefs have been discovered across Bengal, particularly from the rich archaeological site of Chandraketugarh, underscoring the widespread veneration of such female deities.

Terracotta was the preferred medium for religious iconography throughout the Ganges Valley during the Mauryan and Shunga periods (3rd–1st centuries BC). These plaques likely served as household votive icons or were installed at small outdoor shrines, embodying a personal and accessible form of devotion. The stylized enlargement and central placement of the female figure—often depicted with weapon-like motifs in her crown—reflects a proto-Durga archetype and early phases of Hindu goddess worship in South Asia.

This plaque is not only a compelling work of devotional art but also a rare surviving testament to early Indian religious practices, feminine divinity, and regional artistry.

Good condition. Surface wear, firing flaws, minor losses, nicks, scratches, and chips, along with signs of weathering, erosion, and encrustations. Size approx. 9,2cm x 3,7cm x 2,0cm. 

Provenance: From the estate of Professor Tore Arnborg (1912–2007), a senior United Nations official who served as head of the FAO in West and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). Acquired abroad and brought to Sweden in the 1960s.

For a similar examples see:

Female figure, Asian Art Museum, Accession Number: B69S30 (https://searchcollection.asianart.org/objects/10630/female-figure)

Plaque with Goddess and Attendant, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Accession Number: (https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/38087)

References and further reading:

Some Important Terracotta Figurines of Pāṭaliputr, Uma Shankar Azad, March 2024, IJSDR, Volume 9 Issue 3 (https://www.ijsdr.org/papers/IJSDR2403069.pdf)

Chandraketugarh Terracotta Objects, MAP Academy Encyclopedia of Art (https://mapacademy.io/article/chandraketugarh-terracotta-objects/)