2^nd-3^rd century. Superbly carved standing on a square base depicting donor figures venerating a Buddhist reliquary that rests on a low throne under a canopy. Wearing a dhoti with elaborate cascading folds and secured with a finely detailed sash at the waist, a further cloak draped across his shoulder in an elegant sweeping curve, richly adorned with beaded necklaces and armlets. His serene face with crisply delineated features, such as the full lips, wavy mustache, and heavy-lidded eyes. The hair tied in a looped topknot. The head backed by a round halo.

Provenance: From an old Belgian private collection.
Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age. Extensive wear, losses, nicks, scratches, possibly old fills and small pieces reattached, signs of weathering and erosion, encrustations. The fragment of one hand still present, which was broken in two and reassembled some time ago, and possibly associated. Fine, naturally grown, smooth patina.

Dimensions: 115 cm (incl. stand) and 112 cm (excl. stand)

Mounted on an associated stand. (2)

The present schist figure of Maitreya is of exceptional sculptural quality. The statue’s refinement and elegant restraint place it in the 2^nd-3^rd centuries, often considered the high period of Gandharan art. Maitreya is considered the Buddha of the future. When the dharma is forgotten on Earth, he will descend from the Tushita Heaven, where he resides, to be born in our realm as the next Buddha. When he is born on Earth, Maitreya is depicted in rich robes similar to that of the historical Gautama Buddha, prior to his renunciation of worldly goods. In the Gandharan period, Maitreya is considered the most important Bodhisattva.

It is likely he would have held a water vessel in the left hand, which is found in many different contexts within Indian sculpture, but is almost always a symbol of fertility and life. It is an apt visual icon, therefore, for Maitreya's role as a progenitor of future peace and order.

Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related gray schist figure of Maitreya, 163.2 cm high, dated ca. 3^rd century, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 1991.75.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 23 March 2010, lot 140
Price: USD 80,500 or approx. EUR 100,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A gray schist figure of a standing Maitreya, Gandhara, 2^nd/3^rd century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related pose, robes, jewelry, and base. Note the slightly smaller size (102.9 cm).

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 16 September 2008, lot 327
Price: USD 146,500 or approx. EUR 184,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A large gray schist figure of Maitreya, Gandhara, 2^nd/3^rd century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related pose, robes, jewelry, and base. Note the slightly larger size (127 cm).



犍陀羅大型灰色片岩彌勒佛立像
二至三世紀。菩薩「蝶結式」束髮型，用連珠髮帶扎束，髮型捲曲，梳理有序垂於兩肩。額部較寬，眉間白毫，深目、高鼻、薄唇，上唇有髭鬚，顏貌端正無比，柔和圓潤的形制；上身袒露，肩披天衣，下著腰衣、繫腰帶，戴耳璫、項圈、聖線、飾線、臂釧、腕釧等瓔珞飾物，右手施無畏印，左手殘缺，足下著綴珠涼鞋。

來源：比利時私人收藏。
品相：品相良好，大面積磨損、缺損、刻痕、劃痕、小填充物和小修、風化和侵蝕、結殼。一隻手的殘片還在，斷成兩半，重新組裝過。細膩自然的包漿。

尺寸：115 厘米 (含底座)，112 厘米 (不含底座)

配置支架。(2)

本尊片岩彌勒佛像，雕塑品質非凡。二至三世紀是犍陀羅藝術的鼎盛時期。彌勒佛被認為是未來的佛陀。當佛法在人間被遺忘時，他將從他所居住的兜率天降生到我們的世界，成為下一任佛陀。當彌勒佛出生時，身著高貴豪華的殊妙服飾，流露王侯貴族的王子氣派，無疑是悉達多太子成佛前菩薩裝扮的完美體現。在犍陀羅時期，彌勒被認為是最重要的菩薩。

此像左手可能曾經有過一個水瓶。古代婆羅門行者常持著水瓶，彌勒菩薩因其出身婆羅門，故特有此造形。梵天與婆羅門行者所持之瓶，象徵裝有甘露法水之不朽生命意義。

文獻比較：
比較一件非常相近的三世紀片岩彌勒佛像，163.2 厘米高，收藏於大都會藝術博物館，館藏編號1991.75。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2010年3月23日，lot 140
價格：USD 80,500（相當於今日EUR 100,000）
描述：公元二至三世紀犍陀羅灰色片岩彌勒佛立像
專家評論：比較非常相近的姿勢、長袍、珠寶和底座。請注意尺寸稍小(102.9 厘米)。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2008年9月16日，lot 327
價格：USD 146,500（相當於今日EUR 184,000）
描述：公元二至三世紀犍陀羅灰色片岩彌勒佛立像
專家評論：比較非常相近的姿勢、長袍、珠寶和底座。請注意尺寸稍大(127 厘米)。