Large Gandharan Schist Seated Buddha

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Exceptional Antiquities, Asian, Ethnographic

By Artemis Gallery

Feb 21, 2019

Set Reminder 2019-02-21 10:00:00 2019-02-21 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Exceptional Antiquities, Asian, Ethnographic https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-antiquities-asian-ethnographic-3858
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• Lot Description
  Central Asia, Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan, Gandharan Empire, ca. 1st century CE. A large, naturalistic carving from the period of Greco-Buddhist art, Buddha shown in a seated, meditative pose. This sculpture exemplifies so much of what is famous in Gandharan art: the incredible details of the carved robe, which looks like it is carved from some thin, diaphanous material and drapes over the body, covering everything but the head and neck - though the lost hands were probably once uncovered as well. The face is realistically carved, with large, almond-shaped, downcast eyes, a long, thin nose, a symmetrical brow ridge, and a small mouth. Buddha wears an urna, a dot on the forehead, demonstrating his enlightenment. His hair is wavy and knotted at the top of his head in an ushnisha, another sign of his enlightenment. He sits atop an attractive pedestal with low relief lotus flowers carved on its front face, and has a large, round halo behind his head. Size: 12.1" W x 19.4" H (30.7 cm x 49.3 cm); 19.75" H (50.2 cm) on included custom stand.
  
  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 Buddha exemplifies. The curly hair and top-knot look 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-private New York, USA collection, acquired in the 1980s
  
  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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  #144380

  Condition

  Part of halo is lost as shown; hands and front of arms are also lost, as are a few smaller chips from the base and edges. Otherwise in very nice condition, with excellent preservation of the face and robes.
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