The arts of Indus Valley civilization, one of the earliest civilizations of the world, emerged during the second half of the third millennium (Bronze Age).

1. Arts of
Indus Valley
P R E S E N T E D B Y - D E E P A K R A U T
MDes-II2019-21/NIFTNewDelhi

2. Topics to be Covered
Stone Statues
Bronze Casting
Terracotta
Seals
Pottery
Beads and Ornaments
Some Important and famous Arts
DANCING GIRL
BULL
MALE TORSO
PAINTED EARTHEN JAR
MOTHER GODDESS
T O P I C T H A T I C H O O S E D

3. A R T S O F I N D U S V A L L E Y
The forms of art found from various sites of the civilisation include
sculptures, seals, pottery, jewellery, terracotta figures, etc.
The two major sites of the Indus Valley Civilisation, along the Indus
river—the cities of Harappa in the north and Mohenjodaro in the
south—showcase one of earliest examples of civic planning.
Other markers were houses, markets, storage facilities, offices,
public baths, etc., arranged in a grid-like pattern. There was also a
highly developed drainage system.
Harappa and Mohenjodaro are situated in Pakistan, the important
sites excavated in India are Lothal and Dholavira in Gujarat,
Rakhigarhi in Haryana,
Indus Valley art emerged during the second half of the third
millennium BCE (i.e. from 2500 BC onwards).
Ropar in Punjab, Kalibangan in Rajasthan, etc.
Introduction

4. The figure of the bearded man, interpreted as a priest, is draped in a
shawl coming under the right arm and covering the left shoulder
This shawl is decorated with trefoil patterns
The eyes are a little elongated and half-closed as in meditative
concentration.
The nose is well formed and of medium size
the mouth is of average size with close-cut moustache and a short
beard and whiskers
the mouth is of average size with close-cut moustache and a short
beard and whiskers
The hair is parted in the middle, and a plain woven fillet is passed
round the head.
An armlet is worn on the right hand and holes around the neck
suggest a necklace.
Stone Statues
Priest King, Mohenjo-daro

5. The bronze statues found in Harappa were made by the
technique called Lost Wax technique.
First, wax figures were made and then covered with
clay. The clay as allowed to dry and then the figure was
heated to melt the wax. This wax was drained out
through a hole in the clay. After that, the hollow clay
was filled with the metal of choice. After cooling the
metal, the clay was removed revealing the desired
metal figurine.
Examples of bronze figures: Dancing Girl, Buffalo with
uplifted head, goat.
The art of bronze-casting was practised on a wide scale by
the Harappan.
Bronze Casting
Dancing Girl

6. mask of a horned deity
Toy carts with wheels
whistles
rattles
birds and animals
gamesmen and discs
The most important among the Indus figures are those representing
the mother goddess. In terracotta.
few figurines of bearded males with coiled hair, their posture rigidly
upright, legs slightly apart, and the arms parallel to the sides of the
body. The repetition of this figure in exactly the same position would
suggest that he was a deity.
Terracotta
Mother goddess, terracotta
figurines of Terracotta

7. Most of the seals were made of steatite which is a kind of soft stone.
A few of them were also made of terracotta, gold, agate, chert, ivory and
faience.
The standard Harappan seal was square in shape with a 2X2 dimension.
It is believed that the seals were used for commercial purpose.
All the seals have pictures of animals with something written in a
pictographic script (which is yet to be deciphered).
The most famous seal is the Pashupati Seal of Harappan civilization from
Mohenjo Daro.
They all bear a great variety of motifs, most often of animals including those of
the bull, with or without the hump, the elephant, tiger goat and also monsters.
Sometimes trees or human figures were also depicted.,
Seals
Unicorn Seal, Mohenjo-daro
Pashupati Seal

8. Plain and painted pottery are found – plain is more common.
Plain pottery: generally made of red clay, with or without a fine red or grey slip.
Black painted pottery: has a fine coating of red slip with painted geometric and
animal designs.
Perforated pottery was also found, perhaps to use as a sieve.
Polychrome pottery is rare and mainly comprises small vases
decorated with geometric patterns in red, black, and green,
rarely white and yellow.
POTTERY

9. POTTERY

10. Beads and
Ornaments
A variety of ornaments have been found which were used by both men and women.
Ornaments worn by men and women: fillets, necklaces, finger-rings, armlets.
Ornaments worn by women: earrings, girdles, anklets.
Bead factories at Lothal and Chanhudaro.
Hoards of jewellery found at Mohenjodaro and Lothal include necklaces of gold and
semi-precious stones, copper bracelets and beads, gold earrings and head
ornaments, faience pendants and buttons, and beads of steatite and gemstones.
Beads made from cornelian, amethyst, lapis lazuli, quartz, crystal, jasper, turquoise,
steatite, etc. Metals were also used like gold, bronze and copper. Beads were also
made from shells and terracotta.
Beads were of various shapes disc-shaped, cylindrical, spherical, barrel-shaped, and
segmented.

11. Beadwork and jewellery itemsRare Beads from Harappa
The people of the Indus Valley were conscious of fashion.
Cinnabar was used as a cosmetic and face- paint lipstick and collyrium (eyeliner)
were also known to them.

12. A R T S O F I N D U S V A L L E Y
DANCING GIRL
4 inch copper figure
Long hair tied in a bun
Left arm covered with bangles
Cowrie shell necklace around the neck
Right hand on the hip and the left hand in a
Large eyes and a flat nose
Found from Mohenjodaro.
traditional Indian dancing gesture

13. A R T S O F I N D U S V A L L E Y
BULL
standing with his head turned to the right
and with a cord around the neck.
This terracotta bull figurine is entirely hand
made with cream slip on it. Probably a knife
might have been used in shaping the parts
of the body and its minute details. It appears
to be wearing a garland or plaited rope
around its neck.
bull from Mohenjodaro .
The massiveness of the bull and the fury of
the charge are eloquently expressed.

14. A R T S O F I N D U S V A L L E Y
Made of Red sandstone .
There are socket holes in the neck and
shoulders for the attachment of head and
arms.
The frontal posture of the torso has been
consciously adopted.
The shoulders are well baked and the
abdomen slightly prominent.
MALE TORSO

15. A R T S O F I N D U S V A L L E Y
PAINTED
EARTHEN JAR Found in Mohenjodaro
made on a potter’s wheel with clay.
The shape was manipulated by the pressure
of the crafty fingers of the potter. After
baking the clay model, it was painted with
black colour.
The motifs are of vegetals and geometric
forms. Designs are simple but with a
tendency towards abstraction.

16. A R T S O F I N D U S V A L L E Y
The figurine has been cast with an elaborate
headgear supported by a pair of bands and
a brooch, tight-fitted short tunic with skirt
part fastened with a broad waist-band using
a medallion like clasp, and tight-fitted
trousers, necklaces, ear-ornaments...
Place of Origin: Mohenjo-Daro
Materials: Terracotta
Dimensions: 23 x 8.5 cm
MOTHER GODDESS

17. The Indus Valley people gave to the world its earliest
cities, its town planning, its architecture in stone and
clay, and showed their concern for health and
sanitation. They built a scientific drainage system in
their cities.
There is enough evidence to show that some of the early
conceptions of Hinduism are derived from this culture.
On the whole, the present civilization is a composite
product resulting from a fusion of several cultures
where the contribution of the Indus Valley is of utmost
importance.
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Conclusion

18. Thank you