686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
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Nov 15, 2024
<i>This lot is oversized / heavy and may require 3rd party shipping - please inquire before bidding. </i><br><br>Central Asia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Northern India, Gandhara / Kushan Empire, ca. 2nd to 3rd century CE. An exceptional schist sculpture of the Bodhisattva Maitreya dressed like an Indian Prince, heavily adorned in noble finery: bejeweled turban headdress, layered necklaces, earrings, and layers of cascading robes. Resting in his lap, his hands express the dhyana or meditation mudra. Maitreya is considered the Buddha of the future - when the dharma is forgotten on Earth, he will descend from the Tushita Heaven to be born in our realm as the next Buddha. When he is born on Earth, Maitreya will be of brahmin stock. He is dressed, therefore, in the rich garb similar to that of the historical Buddha, prior to his renunciation of worldly life. He is robed in a dhoti with a heavier sanghati draped over the shoulders, open at the front to expose his muscular chest. This naturalistic attention to drapery is characteristic of the Greco-Roman influence seen in the Gandharan period. Size: 12.5" L x 3.9" W x 20.1" H (31.8 cm x 9.9 cm x 51.1 cm)
His shrouded legs appear to be positioned in dhyanasana atop a cushioned throne that is adorned at the front with the relief image of 4 attendants at a shrine and on each side with a lotus flower.
In the Greco-Buddhist art of Gandhara, in the first centuries CE in northern India, Maitreya was the most popular figure to be represented along with Gautama Buddha. Numerous sculptures of Maitreya have been found in Greater Gandhara from the Kushan Empire period (30-375 CE). He also appears in Mathura to a lesser extent.
Gandharan sculpture became famous for the blend of Greco-Roman realism and Buddhist symbolism that is captured by this figure. A unique Indo-Greek culture arose after Alexander the Great's conquest of Central Asia during the 3rd century BCE, and Hellenistic art continued to strongly influence the region and was sustained by the syncretic Kushan Empire well into the 4th century!
Provenance: private London, UK collection; ex-private collection of a London gentleman, acquired in France in the early 2000s; ex-European collection, 1970s
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.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.<br><br><b>SHIPPING EXCEPTIONS: </b>Due to customs clearance issues, we are unable to ship to Germany, Switzerland and Australia. If you live in Germany, Switzerland or Australia, you will need to provide an alternate shipping destination, or we will not be able to complete your purchase. In addition, please note that we are unable to ship ancient items back to the original country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.)
#188450
Some minor chipping, as well as age-commensurate nicks and abrasions as shown. Otherwise, intact and excellent with impressive remaining detail. Earthen encrustations in areas.
All shipping is handled in-house for your convenience. Your invoice from Artemis Gallery will include shipping calculation instructions. If in doubt, please inquire BEFORE bidding for estimated shipping costs for individual items.
**Please note, we are currently unable to ship to Germany, Switzerland and Australia due to customs clearance issues. We are working to resolve this issue. If you are in Germany, Switzerland or Australia, you will need to provide an alternate shipping destination, arrange your own shipping, or we will not be able to complete your purchase.* **For shipments outside of the USA, custom / duties may apply upon entry into said country; this fee, if any, is the buyer's responsibility. Also, please be aware that Artemis Gallery will NOT falsify customs value on any international shipments - what you pay is what we declare, no exceptions. If you have questions about this, please inquire BEFORE bidding**