Terracotta of Middle Ganga Plain: Bihar (Early Period to 600 A.D.)

Contents: 1. Introduction. 2. Historical geography. 3. Technique. 4. Brief description. 5. Religious background. 6. Social and economic aspects of the people. 7. Conclusion. Bibliography. Plates.

The terracotta art today is accepted as a major medium of Indian art. Sculptural wealth of India is fabulous. So the majority of the past art historians devoted their time to exclusive study of sculptures and also to some extent, the numismatics, epigraphy and painting. Terracotta art remained neglected for long and object found during the excavations.

Terracotta’s or clay sculptures occupy an important place in the history of plastic art of India. Bihar is one of the most important states which has yielded various types of terracotta figurines beginning at least as far back as third millennium B.C. down to the late Pla period and the study of these terracotta’s are essential to complete the history of plastic art in India.

The Neolithic Chirand has added a new page in the history of India. The earliest handmade terracottas depicting human, animal and bird figurines were discovered here. We have humped bull and dove like bird, all hand-made. We have one hooded snake and a coiled snake. Neolithic terracottas figurine of bull, serpent and crude female figurine provide the earliest material evidence of religious beliefs. The most notable, however, is the archaic female figure of Mother Goddess.

The Neolithic culture was followed by the Chalcholithic cultural remains noted at Chirand, Sonpur, Oriup, Taradih, Chechar, Maner, Senuvar and Hajipur. The Iron Age in Bihar can be divided into two phases – the early phase and the later phase. In the former, the art which have survived are in the form of clay figurines which have been found from different sites in Patna such as Bulandibagh, Kumrahar, Mahavirghat and Sadar Gali etc.

The terracotta figurines of the Mauryan period, generally larger in size, exhibit individuality in character and style. They have been discovered from most of the archaeological sites in Bihar.

During the Sunga and Kanva period there was a spectacular growth in the production of terracottas. The round figures of the Mauryan period gave place to composition in flat reliefs.

The Kusana terracottas have also been found from Kumrahar, Vaisali, Chirand, Sonpur, Hajipur and Belwa. It seems that the mould was occasionally used, particularly for producing large figurines of which the busts were hand-modelled and the heads pressed out of mould and provided with tenons.

The Gupta figures are delicate and beautiful. Another characteristic feature of the Gupta terracotta figures is the wig-like hair on the head of some male figures. The modes of dressing the hair in the female figures are more varied. From Chausa a terracotta plaque depicting the Ramayana scene has been found which is preserved in the Patna Museum. Recent excavation at Chausa has also brought out several brick like plaque.

The last group consists of the Pala terracottas which have been found mainly from Antichak, Dharawat, Bodh Gaya, Bakraur and Nalanda. However this period is not within the time limit of my research.

The aforesaid survey of ancient terracotta in Bihar right from the Neolithic period down to the early medieval period around 11th-12th century A.D. has brought into focus certain features or elements peculiar to the terracotta forms of this region. In fact, Bihar had contributed much in the field of terracotta art and it has led from forefront even in this medium. Without the study of Terracotta art, the study of India Art can’t be completed. (jacket)