Important Notice

Red sandstone
4th Century

Late Kushan Dynasty

Height: 9 in (22.9 cm)


This lovely head of a Bodhisattva originates from the famed Kushan Dynasty. The powerful dynasty, formed in the early 1st century, ruled various regions from Afghanistan to the North West of the Indian sub continent.

A Bodhisattva is a wonderful being who is on the brink of enlightenment. They defer the final step towards enlightenment so as to stay on for the benefit of mankind. This sculpture has a confident and radiant expression. The eyes have a regal bearing and the lips bear a faint smile. A crown adorns the head. The stone has an excellent aged patina. In spite of the age, the facial features like the eyes, nose and lips are clearly visible. The patina has enhanced the beauty and power of this fine piece. The size indicates that it would have been part of a large full sized Bodhisattva sculpture. Such expressive specimens from the Kushan Dynasty are hard to come by.

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