A carved ivory plaque

Shunga period, circa 100 BC, Chandraketungarh, India

Height: 4.5 cm, 1.7 inches. Width: 3.3 cm, 1.3 inches

The plaque is carved in relief with the scene of a king and his attendants. All the figures are dressed in long dhotis with bare chests and feet, their hair swept up into a top knot with layers of beaded jewellery at the ankles, wrists, arms and around the neck and chest; the ears are adorned with floral pendants.