Gandharan Head of Bodhisattva

$284.17

A finely carved Gandharan red clay head fragment, portraying a Bodhisattva. The statuette might have once been part of a bigger composition. The Bodhisattva is portrayed with hair curling into swirls, framing the figure’s face and combed into a low bun. Facial features are rendered in an idealised, naturalistic style, with attention given to the rendering of the facial features.  Depicted are typical thin eyebrows, almond-shaped eyes, prominent nose and sensually curved, full lips that turn up slightly, rendering a sense of smiling. The treatment of the facial features show a strong classical influence.

Height given below refers only to the head sculpture.

Date: Circa 2nd-4th century BC
Condition: Fine. This object is supplied with a custom made display stand.

SOLD

SKU: HL-24 Category: Tags: ,

Gandhara was an ancient region, once located in an area between modern-day Pakistan and Afghanistan, to which a wide range of Buddhist stone sculptures with strong Hellenistic and Roman aesthetic features are attributed. Gandharan reliefs and statuettes of Buddhist immortals are famous for their harmonious combination of local religious concepts and the idealised styles of Classical sculpture. Gandharan art of this period, dating between 2ndand 4th centuries AD, is almost exclusively Buddhist, and features depiction in high relief of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, usually attached to the walls of religious and domestic shrines. Within Buddhism, the term bodhisattva generally refers to an enlightened being who has not yet become a Buddha.

Weight 378.6 g
Dimensions H 7.6 cm
Culture

Gandharan Ideology

Pottery and Porcelain

Region