Gandharan Gilt Stucco Buddha Head

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Ancient | Ethnographic | Fine Art

By Artemis Gallery

Feb 6, 2019

Set Reminder 2019-02-06 10:00:00 2019-02-06 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Ancient | Ethnographic | Fine Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/ancient-ethnographic-fine-art-3848
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• Lot Description
  Central Asia, Pakistan and Afghanistan, Gandharan Empire, ca. 3rd to mid 5th century CE. A fantastic stucco head of a youthful Buddha, known as Shakyamuni Buddha and formerly Siddhartha Gautama, the crown prince of the Shakya Kingdom, with a gorgeous gilt finish. Depicted nearly in the round, with a wavy coiffure, characteristically long ears emphasizing Prince Siddhartha's rejection of the material world. Here he is shown after his enlightenment, as evidenced by his large ushnisha, the rounded projection from the top of his head that symbolizes his newfound knowledge. The face is finely modeled with bold features including almond-shaped, downcast eyes, an elegantly arched browline leading to an aquiline nose, and full, closed lips. Interestingly, the drama of this visage with its stylized wavy tresses and meditative expression does not discount a sense of naturalism embraced during the Gandharan period. Size: 7" H (17.8 cm); 12.625" H (32.1 cm) on included custom stand.
  
  Gandharans are famous for schist and stucco carvings, with stucco replacing schist as the dominant material around the 3rd century CE. Vast monastic institutions like those at Takht-i-Bahi, Sahri-Bahlol, Jamal Garhi, Ranigat, and Thareli were decorated by skilled artisans with stucco representations of important figures, religious scenes, and artistic dedications. Stucco allowed artists more freedom in portraying lifelike features, as shown in the gentle curve of the brow here. During this time, Gandhara was exceptionally wealthy, profiting from trade along the Silk Road; patrons had resources to spend on the arts, creating a flowering of stucco artwork.
  
  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 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 all sides, blended into a uniquely Gandharan tradition, which this Buddha exemplifies. For example, the wavy tresses of hair of this sculpture and others from the same tradition were likely influenced by the Belvedere Apollo (ca. 330 BCE).
  
  Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-Collection of Dr. George Vroom, New York USA, acquired 1980’s to 2000’s; ex-Collection of Virginia Dellinger, New York, USA, acquired in the 1970’s
  
  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.
  
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  #142900

  Condition

  Stable fissure on upper center of verso. Losses to peripheries of flat back and neckline. Minute losses to tips of ears. Expected surface wear commensurate with age, but much gilding remains.
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