Until 1st May, 2025
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A LARGE GRAY SCHIST HEAD OF BUDDHA, ANCIENT REGION OF GANDHARA, KUSHAN PERIOD, 2ND-3RD CENTURY
Lot 183 - FAS0425
Finely carved, the serene face with heavy-lidded almond-shaped eyes, below elegantly arched brows, centered by a raised circular urna. The pronounced aquiline nose above full bow-shaped lips, flanked by elongated earlobes, and the hair neatly combed away from the face and arranged in wavy locks over the ushnisha.
Provenance: Collection of Alain Kotlar, Paris, since the 1960s, and thence by descent in the family. H. G. Collection, London, acquired from the above in 2006. Frédéric Rond, Indian Heritage, Paris, France, by 2018. LP Collection Paris, France, acquired from the above. Established in 2006 by Frédéric Rond, Indian Heritage is a gallery specializing in Indian and Himalayan art. Located in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Paris, France, it offers a large selection of primitive and classical pieces.
Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age. Wear, obvious losses, chips, scattered nicks and scratches, signs of weathering and erosion, and encrustations. Remnants of pigment. Old repairs with associated fills.
Dimensions: Height 38 cm (excl. stand), 49 cm (incl. stand)
Larger than life size, this head is an outstanding example of the technical abilities of Gandhara sculptors. The carving of this impressive work of art is superbly executed with sensitively modeled facial features blending naturalism with spiritual content. The sculptor was able to create a sense of meditative concentration. Furthermore the gentle, polished features are in strong contrast to the crisply carved wavy strands of hair.
Literature comparison:
Compare a related schist head of Buddha with a similar hairstyle, dated 1st-3rd century, 51 cm high, in the Guimet Museum, accession number MG 12688.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s Paris, 7 June 2011, lot 367
Price: EUR 79,000 or approx. EUR 98,000 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A magnificent gray schist head of Buddha Shakyamuni, Gandhara region, 2nd-3rd century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling and manner of carving with similar expression, facial features, and hairstyle. Note the size (44 cm).
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