The Hindu-Buddhist Sculpture of Ancient Kashmir and its Influences (Handbook of Oriental Studies: Section 2; South Asia)

The Hindu-Buddhist Sculpture of Ancient Kashmir and Its Influences is primarily based on the study of the largely unpublished corpus of sculpture, mostly of stone, in the Sri Pratap Singh Museum in Srinagar, and of other examples in situ elsewhere in the valley. The disparate nature and fragmentary condition of these sculptures as well as their artistic and iconographical influences have for long defied accurate analysis. The method used in the classification of these sculptures is based on close analysis of their style concentrating on recurring features such as facial and physical typology, modelling, dress and ornamentation. Comparisons are made with other examples of Kashmir bronze, ivory and stone sculpture in private and public collections both within India and abroad. Cover 1 Title 4 Copyright 5 Contents 8 Acknowledgements 10 Abbreviations 12 List of Illustrations 14 Introduction 34 Chapter One Historical and Cultural Background of Kashmir up to 1003 AD 42 Physical Features 42 Political History 44 Style and Stylistic Change 54 Cultural History 59 Chapter Two Early Sculptures 64 Locally Produced and Imported Sculptures Dating from the Late First Millennium BCE to the Second Century CE 64 Locally Produced Sculptures 65 I. The Semthan Terracottas with Hellenistic Subject Matter 65 II. The Semthan Terracottas with Indian Subject Matter 76 III. The Mamal Addorsed Bull Capital 81 IV. Stone Sculpture of Apollo Carved in the Round 85 Imported Sculptures 85 I. Terracotta Objects 87 II. Stone Objects 90 III. Metal Objects 93 Sculptures in Gandhāra Style from the Late First Century to the Beginning of the Fifth 97 I. Stone Sculpture 98 II. Metal Images 104 Chapter Three The Formative Period: Sculptures from Bijbihara of the Fifth and Sixth Centuries 110 The Early Phase of the Fifth Century 113 The Later Phase of the Sixth Century 155 Chapter Four The Formative Period: Sculptures from Baramula of the Fifth to the Sixth Century 164 The Later Phase of the Sixth Century 169 Parallel Styles in the Kabul Valley and the North-West 222 Chapter Five Post-Gupta Influence: The Art of Pandrethan and Related Sculptures of the First Half of the Seventh Century 230 Chapter Six The Emergence of the Classical Style: Buddhist Sculpture of the Seventh Century 290 The Buddhist Bronze Sculpture of Swat 330 Sculptures from Bolōr of the Seventh Century 336 Chapter Seven Buddhist Sculpture of the Eighth Century up till the End of the Kārkoṭa Period 344 Bronzes Inscribed with the Names of the Paṭola Ṣāhis and Related Examples 344 The Classical Style: Buddhist Sculpture of the Eighth Century from Parihāsapura and Elsewhere in the Valley through the Kārkoṭa Period 364 Chapter Eight The Classical Style: Brahmanical Sculpture of the Kārkoṭa Period 404 The Influence of the Classical Style 459 I. Ancient Gandhāra Region 459 II. Chamba 459 Chapter Nine The Sculpture of Avantipura and the Art of the Utpalas up to the Beginning of the Lohara Dynasty (CA. 850–1003 AD) 462 The Influence of the Utpala Style 525 Appendix Kashmirian Literary Evidence for Multi-Headed Śiva Images 530 Bibliography 534 Index 544 This Book Is Primarily Based On The Study Of The Largely Unpublished Corpus Of Sculpture, Mostly Of Stone, In The Sri Pratap Singh Museum In Srinagar, And Of Other Examples In Situ Elsewhere In The Valley. The Disparate Nature And Fragmentary Condition Of These Sculptures As Well As Their Artistic And Iconographical Influences Have For Long Defied Accurate Analysis. The Method Used In The Classification Of These Sculptures Is Based On Close Analysis Of Their Style Concentrating On Recurring Features Such As Facial Andphysical Typology, Modelling, Dress And Ornamentation. Comparisons Are Made With Other Examples Of Kashmir Bronze, Ivory And Stone Sculpture In Private And Public Collections Both Within India And Abroad. Historical And Cultural Background Of Kashmir Up To 1003 Ad -- Early Sculptures -- The Formative Period: Sculptures From Bijbihara Of The Fifth And Sixth Centuries -- The Formative Period: Sculptures From Baramula Of The Fifth To The Sixth Century -- Post-gupta Influence: The Art Of Pandrethan And Related Sculptures Of The First Half Of The Seventh Century -- The Emergence Of The Classical Style: Buddhist Sculpture Of The Seventh Century -- Buddhist Sculpture Of The Eighth Century Up Till The End Of The Kārkoṭa Period -- The Classical Style: Brahmanical Sculpture Of The Kārkoṭa Period -- The Sculpture Of Avantipura And The Art Of The Utpalas Up To The Beginning Of The Lohara Dynasty (ca. 850-1003 Ad). By John Siudmak. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The Hindu-Buddhist Sculpture of Ancient Kashmir and Its Influences is a stylistic study of the corpus of stone sculpture, mostly fragmentary, in the Sri Pratap Singh Museum in Srinagar, and elsewhere in Kashmir, in comparison with other examples in collections both in India and abroad.