Stair-riser / frieze

Unknown (Kushan)

Item type:

sculpture

Date of creation:

2nd-3rd century

Height:

15.3 cm  (6 in.)

Width:

17.5 cm  (6 7/8 in.)

Diameter:

5.4 cm  (2 1/8 in.)

Technique / Medium:

limestone, relief, carved

Place of creation:

Gandhara (former nation/state/empire)

School:

Gandhara

Description

Three lengths from a partly continuous frieze with an undulating garland and amorini. From right to left (c) the figures are: a standing amorino wearing a knotted loincloth with a length of drapery hanging from his girdle and anklets, playing a lute held across the body and supporting the garland over both shoulders; vestiges of a damaged amorino, with anklet, in the dip of the garland. The garland appears to be of ribbed and pointed leaves and has flat bands tied round it; at the bottom of one dip hang worn buds and a large globular bunch of grapes and on the left are radiating vine leaves hanging by their stalks. ------ On (b) the figures are: a standing amorino supporting the garland on his right shoulder, beating, with both hands, a barrel drum diagonally suspended, and wearing a knotted loincloth with a pendent end, anklets, a collar and bracelets; a winged figure in the dip of the garland, legs flexed at the knees, arms broken but once beating a large drum on which the hands survive; a naked amorino, seen from the back, wearing anklets and encircling the garland with the surviving arm. The garland has a pointed-leaf pattern and rounded petals and is tied round with flat bands. At the bottom of the dip four surviving buds hangs by their stalks; at the right, where the piece fits (c), is a very distinctly carved vine leaf. ------ On (a) the figures are: a half-length figure, with one hand raised and the other perhaps holding a cup, emerging frontally from the dip of the garland, wearing a collar and bracelet; a naked amorino, with genitals indicated, turned to his right with the garland on his right shoulder, the arm behind it, his left hand on his hip, wearing a collar, bracelets and anklets. The worn garland seems to consist of petals and leaves, and five worn buds hang by their stalks at the bottom of the dip. Traces remain of a plain framing fillet above and below. According to the Museum Register these pieces were stair-risers.

Instruments [MIMO Code] (notes)

Lute [3394]
Drum [2585]

RIdIM images

Image URLs

image link 2

RIdIM record id

5352