Grey slate. Ghandara, probably 2nd to 3rd cent.

Rare stone sculpture, well preserved in terms of its old age, rendered with Maitreya, (lit.:"loving-kindness"), also named Buddha of the future. As the present figure is an early craftsmanship the difference to a Buddha sculpture is hardly discernible in terms of sitting posture and hand gesture, Maitreya with pronounced head in the kind of Buddha, the hair arranged in a loop, the face offering serene meditative expression, wearing decorative necklaces, ears bejeweled, curly hair falling to shoulders, one hand and forearm lost and was possibly in dharmacakra mudra and with lotus bud as seen from the fragments, the forehead with urna, wearing moustache, the head surrounded of round nimbus; Bodhisattva shown seated on a pedestal that is decorated with a frieze depicting Buddha seated in meditation and flanked by two adorants.

Condition report: Good condition in terms of age

HEIGHT 49,7 CM

From a German private collection

Expertise: Wolfmar Zacken