Central Asia, Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan, Gandharan Empire, Kushan period, ca. 2nd to 3rd century CE. A fine relief, hand-carved from a grey schist, depicting a tall stupa and a dancing male figure. The stupa has a stepped rectangular plinth surmounted by an ovoid pot base which is lightly-incised with segmented lotus petals. A central column rises upwards and displays a nude man prancing around the platform with his right leg raised in the air while holding his hands together. The two hemispheres which comprise the upper component of the stupa are similarly-adorned with incised flower petals, with a pair of humped bulls resting on top and facing in opposite directions. Size: 5.125" W x 13.9" H (13 cm x 35.3 cm).

For a stylistically-similar example, please see The British Museum, museum number 1899,0609.12: http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=225445&partId=1

Provenance: ex-private Gomez collection, Delray Beach, Florida, USA, acquired in Islamabad, Pakistan in the late 1960s

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#138129

Surface wear and abrasions commensurate with age, losses to upper and lower borders, lateral sides, and one area of interior, fading to carved details, and roughness across most surfaces. Nice earthen deposits throughout. Two metal screws and metal wire on top of verso for suspension.