Mauryan polish
Topic: Early Indian Art and Architecture: Stupas, Rock-cut Caves, Temples · NCERT: Class 7, Ch 5 "The Rise of Empires"
Meaning
Mauryan polish is the shiny, mirror-like finish on stone pillars and sculptures of the Mauryan period (c. 3rd century BCE). Craftsmen rubbed sandstone until it shone almost like metal. It is a mark of court art made with royal support. Many scholars link the technique to Persian (Achaemenid) influence. The polish helps historians date a piece. A glossy sandstone sculpture of this kind is usually taken to be Mauryan or close to it.
Example
The Ashokan lion capital at Sarnath has this shine. The Didarganj yakshi, found near Patna in Bihar, is often given as an example of it too. A yakshi is a female nature spirit.
Don't confuse with
- Gupta-period finish: Gupta sculptures, such as the Sarnath Buddhas, have smooth, soft modelling but not the glassy Mauryan shine.