Central Asia, Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan, Gandharan Empire, ca. 1st century CE. A wonderful part of a grey schist carving in the form of a high relief, seated Buddha. He sits with his hands in the Dhyana mudra. This is a gesture of meditation, with the hands placed in the lap, right hand on left, with fingers full stretched out and palms facing upwards. His body and hair are sumptuously carved. Size: 2.45" L x 4" W x 4.2" H (6.2 cm x 10.2 cm x 10.7 cm)

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 Greek and Classical artwork, blended into a uniquely Gandharan tradition, which this carving exemplifies.

Provenance: private E.S. collection, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

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#126594

Piece is a fragment, with breaks along all edges except the bottom. The figure of the Buddha is fully intact aside from a small loss at the top back of the ushnisha.