Plaque with a Royal Family in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, January 2009

Title/Object Name: Plaque with a Royal Family

Culture: India (West Bengal, Chandraketugarh)

Period: Shunga period

Date: 1st century B.C.

Medium: Terracotta

Dimensions: H. 12 3/4 in. (32.5 cm); W. 10 1/4 in. (26 cm)

Classification: Sculpture

Credit Line: Purchase, Florence and Herbert Irving Gift, 1992

Accession Number: 1992.129

On View

Text from: www.metmuseum.org/Works_of_Art/collection_database/asian_...

and

This extremely fine early Indian molded terracotta plaque portrays a secular subject in an unusually robust style. As is usual, there are two holes in the upper part of the plaque that probably allowed it to be suspended by means of a cord.

The function of such plaques is unknown. It has been suggested that they either served as a votive purpose or were used as personal cult objects.

Text excerpted from the Metropolitan Museum of Art label.