Central Asia, Pakistan and Afghanistan, Gandharan Empire, ca. 200 BCE to 100 CE. One of the finest examples of a sculpted woman from this culture that we have seen, this is a sensitive and lifelike carving of the upper body of a goddess or elite woman - perhaps the goddess Hariti. She wears a large headdress with a flower at its center and a tufted crest rising from one side. Below that, her curled coiffure and long dangling earrings frame her face, which is depicted with strong features - deep set eyes, a strong browline, a large, thin nose, and a small, thin-lipped mouth. She wears a flowing garment with several strands of beaded necklaces and bracelets. Her youthful, slender body is visible below one raised arm. She holds what looks like a pipe to her mouth. A halo is behind her head. Size: 5.45" W x 7.35" H (13.8 cm x 18.7 cm)

This is an amazing and naturalistic carving from the period of Greco-Buddhist art. The Gandharan Empire made itself wealthy in part by controlling lucrative trade along the mountain passes between China in the East and the Near East and Mediterranean in the West; a great deal of this wealth went into local patronage of artisans and art. In the first century CE, Buddhism became fashionable amongst Gandharan elites, and the art produced at this time depicting the Buddha are 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 all sides, blended into a uniquely Gandharan tradition, which this woman exemplifies.

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection

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#137034

Piece is a fragment, with losses from the halo and below the upper part of the body. Encrusted deposits on surface, with some small areas of remaining white pigment. Excellent preservation of details.