This head has been described as that of a demon, rendered in a comical, mask-like fashion. Such images are indeed common, particularly in scenes depicting the victory of the historical Buddha Shakyamuni over the beautiful she-demons sent to tempt and distract him from achieving enlightenment. This face, however, lacks any menacing features, including any of the overtly demonic features (such as protruding sharpened teeth) that are normally present in such depictions.

Rather than a demoness, the features and headwear of this female seem closer to those found in a drawing of a Sogdian female deities, rendered in ink on paper and dating to the same period. Both the figure in the drawing and this clay female head wear a cap that comes down low over the forehead, and both share the same protruding eyes, sharply delineated eyebrows, broad nose and pursed lips. Not enough of the clay figure survives to allow us to determine iconographically whether or not these two females share the same identity. The similarity in facial features, however, offers evidence of Sogdian manufacture for this painted clay head.