Last Existence: Visit to the Ascetic; scene of adoration

A simple false niche showing a scene from the Last Existence and a scene of adoration. The simple niche consists of one nave, an architrave, a volute semi-arch, and a figured finial. The nave rests on a base composed of a plain fillet and is framed by a first plain band and by a second band decorated with overlapping lanceolate leaves. The architrave shows a row of vertical separate acanthus leaves with plain leaves behind. The figured field of the semi-arch is parted into three sections, each showing a figured element. The frame of the semi-arch features a row of saw teeth. The semi-arch is dived from the finial by a chequered grid with alternating relief squares in between two plain bands. A circular socket is drilled on the top face of the finial. The nave shows the Visit to the Ascetic. Siddhārtha enters a grove where he meets a group of brahmins. One of them describes to him the ascetic practices. On the left, an elderly ascetic is sitting inside a hut. The left hand is holding a globular kamaṇḍalu, the right is raised and open up. The semi-arch shows the Adoration of the Alms-Bowl in the central section. The object rests on a throne with turned legs, a drape on the front face, and a fly-whisk on both sides. It was surmounted by an umbrella. The two side sections show a rosette in each with four petals on right-angle axes. The finial displays a solar disk on a crescent moon. The motif lies on a pinnacle- or throne-like element which possibly featured a wavy cloth on both sides, of which the outlines are still discernible.