Lot 105E
Central Asia, Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan, Gandharan Empire, ca. 2nd to 3rd century CE. A beautiful and expertly-carved grey schist head of the Buddha, depicted here in high relief with a large ushnisha (a topknot in the Gandharan tradition) as well as an urna (dot on the forehead) symbolizing the Third Eye and the ability to see past the universe of suffering. The face is finely sculpted with bold features including downcast almond-shaped eyes beneath heavy lids, a sharply ridged brow line leading to an aquiline nose, full lips with indented corners, and large ears with drooping lobes, all beneath the wavy tresses of his coiffure. Custom museum-quality display stand included. Size: 4" W x 5.875" H (10.2 cm x 14.9 cm); 9.1" H (23.1 cm) on included custom stand.
The Gandharan Empire made itself wealthy in part by controlling lucrative trade along the mountain passes between China in the East and the Near East and Mediterranean in the West; a great deal of this wealth went into local patronage of artisans and art. In the first century CE, Buddhism became fashionable amongst Gandharan elites, and the art produced at this time depicting the Buddha includes some of the most striking Buddhist images from the past. Their artistic tradition also reflects the conquest of Alexander the Great and the introduction of styles from all sides, blended into a uniquely Gandharan tradition, which this Buddha exemplifies. For example, the wavy tresses of hair of this sculpture and others from the same tradition were likely influenced by the Belvedere Apollo (ca. 330 BCE).
For a stylistically-similar example made from stucco, please see The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 13.96.4: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/38777
Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection
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#144377
- Condition: This is a fragment of a larger sculpture. Small losses to ear lobes and neck line, with minor abrasions to face, and light encrustations. Nice earthen deposits throughout. Old inventory label on display stand.
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