Q1.
Look closely at the pictures in the collage in Fig 6.6 (on the previous page). In a note, write down your observations on the clothes, the jewellery, and other objects of daily use.
Answer
Sample answer — a note of the kind the question asks for. Ten objects are shown; group your observations as below.
| Object in Fig. 6.6 | What can be seen |
|---|---|
| 6.6.1 Pillar with a Greek warrior | A short belted tunic, a cross-belt over the chest, a sword at the hip and boots — foreign dress, carved on an Indian pillar |
| 6.6.2 Male figure | Bare upper body, a dhoti with folds falling between the legs, a heavy turban, large earrings, bangles |
| 6.6.3 Woman with a child | An elaborate hairstyle, big round earrings, layered necklaces, a broad beaded girdle (mekhalā) at the waist, bangles up the forearm, anklets |
| 6.6.4 Woman with a fan | The fan itself is an object of daily use; note again the girdle and the stacked bangles |
| 6.6.5 A vase | Terracotta, its whole surface covered with rows of small human and animal figures — a decorated household pot |
| 6.6.6 Female figure with hair ornaments, terracotta | A crown-like arrangement of hair ornaments, a crescent mark on the forehead — hairdressing was itself an art |
| 6.6.7 Royal family | Two richly dressed figures with turbans, ornaments and a long staff — the same jewellery as the others, but more of it |
| 6.6.8 Bronze bangles covered with a thin layer of gold | Real jewellery, not sculpture: gold-plating shows a clever craft technique that made costly-looking ornaments affordable |
| 6.6.9 Comb of ivory | Fine long teeth, and a carved top with figures and animals — an everyday object made beautiful |
| 6.6.10 Beads of a necklace | Small gold beads of different shapes, including a tiny animal figure — evidence of very fine goldsmithing |
What the collage tells us as a whole:
- Clothes were mainly unstitched — dhoti, sari-like drapes, sashes and turbans — except on the Greek warrior, who wears a stitched tunic and boots. Foreign dress was known and could be carved without fuss.
- Jewellery was worn in quantity by everyone shown, men included: earrings, necklaces, armlets, bangles, girdles, anklets. Materials range from terracotta to bronze, gold-plated bronze, gold and ivory.
- Daily objects were decorated — a comb, a vase, a fan. Art was not kept only for temples.
- The number of terracotta pieces shows that ordinary people, not only the rich, could own well-modelled figures. Clay was cheap; skill was not.
Try This: compare 6.6.8 with any gold-plated bangle sold today. The technique — a thin layer of gold over a cheaper metal — is over two thousand years old.