A SCHIST RELIEF PANEL DEPICTING THE GIFT OF THE GOLDEN CLOTH, ANCIENT REGION OF GANDHARA

Kushan period, 2^nd-4^th century. Finely carved, the upper register with the enlightened Buddha standing tall against a large plain nimbus, clutching his sanghati, carved with deeply grooved folds, his body is slightly turned towards the devotees as he raises his right hand in benediction, the protector Vajrapani stands to his right, amply bearded, the muscular figure is dressed in a simple dhoti wrapped around the waist, one hand cradles a large hourglass-shaped vajra aloft. The lower register is carved with Maitreya seated in dhyanasana on a stool under a canopy, with worshipers at either side.

Provenance: A private collection in Italy. Collection of Leonardo Vigorelli, Bergamo, acquired from above. Leonardo Vigorelli is a retired Italian art dealer and noted collector, specializing in African and ancient Hindu-Buddhist art. After studying anthropology and decades of travel as well as extensive field research in India, the Himalayan region, Southeast Asia, and Africa, he founded the Dalton Somaré art gallery in Milan, Italy, which today is being run by his two sons.
Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age. Extensive wear, obvious losses, signs of weathering and erosion, structural cracks, nicks, scratches.
Italian Export License: Attestato di libera circolazione, N. 30337, dated 23 April 2019, has been granted by the Ufficio Esportazione di Milano, Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali. A copy accompanies this lot.

Dimensions: Length 52 cm, Height 36 cm

The upper scene illustrates Anathapindika, a wealthy merchant, gifting the Cloth of Gold to Buddha. Buddha divides it and gives one half to his disciple Ananda who later comments on how his half has lost its lustre. Buddha explains that this is the final sign for His departure from this world. According to a variant in a later Pali canon, a Mallian disciple, Pukkusa, was instructed to fetch a pair of cloth-of-gold robes for the Buddha and was told to clothe Him in one and Ananda in the other. But later Ananda comments, 'Lord, it seems as if their brilliance has died out.' The Blessed One says, 'So it is, Ananda, so it is. There are two occasions when the color of the Perfect One's skin becomes exceptionally clear and bright. What are the two? They are on the eve of his discovery of the Supreme Full Enlightenment and the eve of his final attainment of Nirvana.'

As Buddhism expanded into Asia and fused with Hellenistic influences into Greco-Buddhism, the Greek hero Heracles was adopted to represent Vajrapani. In that era, he was typically depicted as a hairy, muscular athlete, wielding a short diamond club.

Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related schist relief depicting Buddha and Vajrapani in similar poses, illustrated in the Huntington Archive, scan number 9750. Compare a closely related Gandharan relief panel, dated to the 2^nd century, in the Victoria & Albert Museum, accession number IS.78-1948. Compare a closely related Gandharan relief panel, dated 2^nd-3^rd century, in the British Museum, registration number 1880.196.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 20 September 2006, lot 33
Price: USD 43,200 or approx. EUR 53,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A rare gray schist relief with the Gift of the Golden Cloth, Gandhara, 2^nd/3^rd century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject, modeling, and manner of carving. Note the smaller size (36 cm wide).

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s London, 8 April 2011, lot 282
Price: GBP 13,750 or approx. EUR 20,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A benedictory frieze with Bodhisattva Maitreya, Gandhara, 2nd/4th century AD
Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject, with the scene matching that on the lower half of the present lot, as well as modeling and manner of carving with similar draped plinth, garment folds, and band of triangles above. Note the smaller size (30 x 46 cm).