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Fragment of a Pillar Railing

Asian Art

This fragment once formed a part of a railing or pillar of a great Buddhist stupa at Bharhut, in Madhya Pradesh, erected during the Shunga period. This was one of the earliest large-scale Buddhist monuments in India. The distinctive treatment of the eyes and facial features carved in shallow relief identify reliefs from this site.

MEDIUM Red Sandstone
  • Place Made: Bharhut, Madhya Pradesh, India
    • DATES 2nd century B.C.E.
    PERIOD Shunga Period
    DIMENSIONS 7 1/4 x 7 1/2 in. (18.4 x 19.1 cm)
    COLLECTIONS Asian Art
    ACCESSION NUMBER 79.254.3
    CREDIT LINE Gift of Georgia and Michael de Havenon
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    RECORD COMPLETENESS
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