Double-Faced Crossbar from a Railing

The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Double-Faced Crossbar from a Railing as sculpture (India, Madhya Pradesh, Bharhut, Shunga period · c. 150 BCE).

WHY IT’S INTERESTING

This lens-shaped section of a crossbar is from one of the the earliest known Buddhist monuments in India to be embellished with stone relief carvings. It is from a circular fence that surrounded a stupa and demarcated the sacred space from the outside world.

SERENDIPITYA little unexpected

FamiliarWeird

A CLOSER LOOK

The museum identifies this sculpture as plum-colored sandstone.

The museum's collection notes: This lens-shaped section of a crossbar is from one of the the earliest known Buddhist monuments in India to be embellished with stone relief carvings. It is from a circular fence that surrounded a stupa and demarcated the sacred space from the outside world.

FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE

The Cleveland Museum of ArtDouble-Faced Crossbar from a Railing

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