Expert’s note: The present stucco head is of earlier date than most, depicting wavy hair with not even a trace yet of the later Indian-influenced development of snail-like curls arranged all over the skull. The closest example in this regard is a head in the Musée Guimet, Paris, accession number AO 2960, discovered in Shahbaz Garhi and dated to the 3rd century, displaying a very similar hairline and rows of wavy locks.

Kushan period. A superb example of stucco sculpture with delicately and crisply modeled features. The face retains a smoothly polished surface. The ovoid face with full lips, downcast eyes under arched brows centered by an urna, the wavy hair pulled over the ushnisha.

Provenance: Galerie La Reine Margot, Paris, 1996. Collection of Jean-Marc Andral, Belgium, acquired from the above. A copy of a provenance statement, written and signed by Jean-Marc Andral, dated 21 October 2023, confirming the above, accompanies this lot. Galerie La Reine Margot is the oldest archeological gallery in Paris, created by Madame Mengin in 1938. Jean-Marc Andral is a Belgian manager based in Brussels and active in the healthcare industry for over 25 years.
Condition: Very good condition, commensurate with age. Losses, wear, nicks, chips, few structural cracks with associated touchups, signs of weathering and erosion, all as expected.

Weight: 9,980 g (incl. stand)
Dimensions: Height 34 cm (excl. stand) and 47 cm (incl. stand)

Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related stucco head, dated 3^rd century, in the Musée Guimet, Paris, accession number AO 2960. Compare a closely related stucco head, dated 4^th-5^th century, 39.2 cm high, in the Victoria & Albert Museum, accession number IM.3-1931.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 23 March 2010, lot 109
Price: USD 43,750 or approx.. EUR 56,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A large stucco head of Buddha, Gandhara, 3^rd-4^th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling and features with similar wavy hair, pursed lips, and heavy-lidded eyes. Note the related size (36.8 cm).

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 22 March 2011, lot 204
Price: USD 80,500 or approx. EUR 102,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A large stucco head of Buddha, Gandhara, 4^th/5^th century
Expert remark: Compare the related modeling and features, depicting wavy hair with traces of curly hair on top, this head thus being of slightly later date than the present lot. Note the size (54 cm).

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Bonhams Hong Kong, 2 October 2018, lot 8
Price: HKD 4,660,000 or approx. EUR 601,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A polychromed stucco head of Buddha, ancient region of Gandhara, circa 4^th/5^th century
Expert remark: Compare the related modeling and features, depicting wavy hair with traces of curly hair on top, this head thus being of slightly later date than the present lot. Note the excellent condition, polychromy, and size (61 cm).