Central Asia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Northern India, Gandhara / Kushan Empire, ca. 2nd to 3rd century CE. A superb gray schist bust of the Bodhisattva Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future, dressed like an Indian Prince, heavily adorned in noble finery: bejeweled turban headdress, layered necklaces, earrings, and layers of cascading robes. He holds the water pot, kundika, containing the elixir of life upon a pedestal carved with the with two figures and the Bodhi tree. This statue may have resided in temple or shrine niche. Buddha was born to royal parents and was known as Prince Siddhartha but renounced his home life and the ephemeral pleasures of the material world to live as a wandering ascetic - he gained enlightenment while seated under a Bodhi tree. While Buddha had renounced material wealth the Gandhara nobles and wealthy merchant class were the primary patrons of art. Size: 4.25" L x 2" W x 13.2" H (10.8 cm x 5.1 cm x 33.5 cm); 13.5" H (34.3 cm) on included custom stand.

Gandharan sculpture became famous for the blend of Greco-Roman realism and Buddhist symbolism that is captured by this figure. A unique Indo-Greek culture arose after Alexander the Great's conquest of Central Asia during the 3rd century BCE, and Hellenistic art continued to strongly influence the region and was sustained by the syncretic Kushan Empire well into the 4th century!

Provenance: East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#179485

Losses to upper halo and missing left arm, and figures on pedestal. Chips and abrasions to high pointed areas, headdress, robes, and right hand attribute, but overall great preservation to details. Light mineral and earthen deposits.