A carved ivory plaque depicting scenes from the life of Krishna, Orissa, 17th century

of rectangular form, carved in relief, one side depicting Krishna playing the flute beneath lush vegetal and floral scrolls flanked by a pair of gopis on a lotus-petal and beaded plinth, the reverse depicting Krishna with two gopis separated by a stylised tree with branching palmettes, on Perspex base

Prof. Samuel Eilenberg (1913-1998), New York
Acquired in London in 1984

In good condition, mounted on a perspex stand, minor discoloration and fissures associated with age, as viewed.
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This plaque would have formed part of a bed-head illustrating further scenes from the Bhagavata Purana. A related plaque is in the Metropolitan Museum, New York (see Topsfield et al. 2004, In the Realm of Gods and Kings: Arts of India, London, 2004, p.349, no.155).