A RARE INLAID STUCCO HEAD OF A YOUTHFUL BUDDHA, ANCIENT REGION OF GANDHARA, 3RD-5TH CENTURY
A RARE INLAID STUCCO HEAD OF A YOUTHFUL BUDDHA, ANCIENT REGION OF GANDHARA, 3RD-5TH CENTURY
Kushan period. Finely modeled with lowered eyes beneath gently arched brows, softly pursed lips forming a serene expression, rounded youthful features, centered by an urna finely inlaid in carnelian, the wavy hair piled up into a high topknot.
Provenance: French trade. By repute acquired from a private estate.
Condition: Good condition with expected old wear, obvious losses, scattered chips and nicks, signs of weathering and erosion, encrustations.
Weight: 418 g
Dimensions: Height 8.8 cm (excl. stand), 15.1 cm (incl. stand)
Mounted on a metal stand.
Gandhara, located in the rugged foothills of the Himalayas, was a thriving cultural crossroads, where Greek, Parthian, and Kushan influences converged with the indigenous Buddhist tradition. The wealth of the region, bolstered by its pivotal role in trade, allowed for the commissioning of grandiose sculptures and monumental icons that reflected the evolving Buddhist philosophy, particularly from the 4th to 5th centuries AD. These works embodied the transformative ideologies of a flourishing Gandharan society.
In addition to schist, stucco was a popular medium for sculpture in the ancient Gandhara region. A lightweight, malleable ware, stucco readily lends itself to delicate detailing and sensitive modeling, conveying an emotional presence exemplified in this fine head of a bodhisattva.
Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related stucco head of Buddha, ancient region of Gandhara, dated 4th century, 6.5 cm tall, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, object number 31.106.7.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie's New York, 21 September 2007, lot 226
Price: USD 11,250 or approx.
EUR 15,400 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A small stucco head of Buddha, Gandhara, 3rd/4th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject and modeling with similar wavy curls. Note the size (14 cm).
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie's New York, 25 September 2024, lot 501
Price: USD 8,820 or approx.
EUR 8,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A stucco head of Buddha, Ancient region of Gandhara, 4th-5th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject and modeling with similar wavy curls. Note the size (14.9 cm).
Buyer's Premium
30%
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
A RARE INLAID STUCCO HEAD OF A YOUTHFUL BUDDHA, ANCIENT REGION OF GANDHARA, 3RD-5TH CENTURY
Kushan period. Finely modeled with lowered eyes beneath gently arched brows, softly pursed lips forming a serene expression, rounded youthful features, centered by an urna finely inlaid in carnelian, the wavy hair piled up into a high topknot.
Provenance: French trade. By repute acquired from a private estate.
Condition: Good condition with expected old wear, obvious losses, scattered chips and nicks, signs of weathering and erosion, encrustations.
Weight: 418 g
Dimensions: Height 8.8 cm (excl. stand), 15.1 cm (incl. stand)
Mounted on a metal stand.
Gandhara, located in the rugged foothills of the Himalayas, was a thriving cultural crossroads, where Greek, Parthian, and Kushan influences converged with the indigenous Buddhist tradition. The wealth of the region, bolstered by its pivotal role in trade, allowed for the commissioning of grandiose sculptures and monumental icons that reflected the evolving Buddhist philosophy, particularly from the 4th to 5th centuries AD. These works embodied the transformative ideologies of a flourishing Gandharan society.
In addition to schist, stucco was a popular medium for sculpture in the ancient Gandhara region. A lightweight, malleable ware, stucco readily lends itself to delicate detailing and sensitive modeling, conveying an emotional presence exemplified in this fine head of a bodhisattva.
Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related stucco head of Buddha, ancient region of Gandhara, dated 4th century, 6.5 cm tall, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, object number 31.106.7.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie's New York, 21 September 2007, lot 226
Price: USD 11,250 or approx.
EUR 15,400 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A small stucco head of Buddha, Gandhara, 3rd/4th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject and modeling with similar wavy curls. Note the size (14 cm).
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie's New York, 25 September 2024, lot 501
Price: USD 8,820 or approx.
EUR 8,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A stucco head of Buddha, Ancient region of Gandhara, 4th-5th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject and modeling with similar wavy curls. Note the size (14.9 cm).
Buyer's Premium
30%
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
