Important Notice

GANDHARA, 3RD - 4TH CENTURY
Stucco
9 in (23.4 cm) high

NON-EXPORTABLE REGISTERED ANTIQUITY

PROVENANCE
The Rumi Mistry Collection, Mumbai


The ancient region of Gandhara straddled The ancient region of Gandhara straddled as the North West Frontier Province during the British Raj, and is now known as the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. As a true geographic crossroads between India, China, the Middle East and the Mediterranean, the region flourished under the Kushan dynasties from the 1st through the 8th centuries as a trade and cultural hub. It was here that figurative Buddhist sculpture first emerged around the 1st century. Much of Kushan-period Gandharan sculpture consisted of works with Buddhist themes, including images of the Buddha and Boddhisatvas.

Likely to be from the Hadda region in what is now Afghanistan, the present lot, with finely delineated almond-shaped eyes and full lips, is modelled in stucco rather than carved from stone. The use of stucco became more popular and was perfected in later Gandharan work, which shows the culmination of the stylistic tradition.

Other similar works in: this auction  |  entire site