National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
Digital Archive of Toyo Bunko Rare Books

altar is perhaps a low wall, decorated with an `all-over' floral pattern in black

outline on buff, with the ribbon border below.

It is a careful piece of work and is exceptionally well preserved.

PAINTED FRAGMENTS FROM BALAWASTE

Har. G.+Bal. 0102, Har. H

THESE three pieces, two of which were presented by Mr. Harding, seem to

belong to one picture. That the two on the left belong to one figure there appears

to be no doubt. The space between them is necessary to allow for a blue band

in the robe, of which one end appears at the top right of Bal. 0102. The

two figures to which these fragments belonged were probably Bodhisattvas. Their

elaborately figured robes are drawn with a certain mechanical rigidity and with

meticulous care for the details of the patterns. The smallness of some of these

details, and a certain amount of discoloration, have made it extremely difficult

to reproduce the minutiae clearly; so the following descriptions may help towards

their elucidation. The patterns on the robe to the left are in transverse bands of

dark red-brown, red, blue, and red, this sequence repeating. On the red-brown

band is a double row of small buff squares, and within each square four white

dots. Alternating with these squares and placed checkerwise in relation to them

are three rows of rosettes, each formed of four white dots arranged in square

formation. On the red band is a centre row of long, white, lozenge-shape patterns

and above and below these, in the intervals, are halves of the same pattern in

yellow. Within each edge of the band is a wavy white line. On the blue band is

the same arrangement of five rows of dotted square rosettes as on the red, the

second and fourth rows being buff on red and the first, third, and fifth, white. The

general effect is harmonious and rich, and the patterns, quite Indian in character,

are such as are commonly used in the weaving of woollen shawls at the present

time, especially in the North. The banded character of the fabric is especially

noticeable in the garments worn by figures depicted in the Ajanta Cave paintings.

A small part of the vesica appears on the left, and seems to be bordered with

pale pink and dark grey.

The fragment to the right is very similar in treatment but has less of the smaller

detail. The rose-pink of one of the bands is an unusual colour in this type of textile.

As in most of the pictures, the feet are clumsily drawn, with awkward, fat heels

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