Harappan Seal Terracotta Peepul Tree Replica

This seal, depicting two unicorns beneath a Peepul Tree, is one of the earliest representations of Ficus religiosa in Indian art, pressed into clay by the Indus Valley Civilization at Mohenjo-Daro more than 4,000 years ago. This handcrafted replica was made by a Molela terracotta artist from Rajasthan, a community that has worked fired clay for centuries. The technique of pressing clay into a carved mold and firing it is the same now as it was then.

The original Harappan Peepul Tree seal was unearthed at Mohenjo-Daro and is now one of the most significant objects in South Asian archaeological history, the earliest known depiction of a tree that would go on to be sacred across Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Under its branches, the Buddha found enlightenment. This artisanal terracotta replica is made by Molela artisans in Rajasthan, who work with the same press-and-fire method that produced the original.

Framed and ready to hang, it reads as both art object and artifact. It asks the person looking at it to do a small calculation: this image is over four thousand years old, and a craftsman's hands made this handmade version of it last season. The gap between those two facts is what makes the object worth having.

Molela Terracotta · Hand-Pressed Clay · Rajasthan · Harappan Replica

Care Instructions

• Dust gently with a dry, soft cloth, do not wet.
• Hang away from direct sunlight to preserve colours and mirror adhesion.
• Handle with care, the mirror inlay is fragile.
• Do not clean with water or any liquid cleaner.