Railing pillar

Unknown (Indian)

Item type:

architectural object

Date of creation:

3rd century

Height:

225.0 cm  (88 9/16 in.)

Width:

60.0 cm  (23 5/8 in.)

Technique / Medium:

limestone, relief, carved

Place of creation:

Amarāvati (Andhra Pradesh, Bhārat)

Description

Railing pillar carved in limestone ('Palnad marble') with lotus medallions and narrative reliefs.
-On the inner face, the central medallion depicts a court scene with a haloed princely figure seated on a throne surrounded by ladies both seated and dancing and a flute (possibly bansuri or vamsa) player (Krishna?). The lower fluted area bears scenes with nagas possibly associated with the Jataka of the naga Champaka.
-The outer face is sculpted with stylised lotuses and dancing ganas (dwarves) in a wave pattern; at the bottom is a range of running animals.

Iconclass

12B213
ritual music and dancing ~ non-Christian religions

Instruments [MIMO Code] (notes)

Basuri [3900]

RIdIM images

Image URLs

image link 1

RIdIM record id

5340