GANDHARA GREY SHIST STONE OF BUDDHA ON A LOTUS BASE

100-300 AD. Gandharan. Schist figure of a two- faced Buddha atop a lotus. Buddha, backed by a halo, gazing serenely into the distance. He is dressed in an elegant sanghati or mantle and wears elaborate jewellery, including a beaded necklace, armbands and bracelets, reflecting his spiritual wealth. The Buddha sits cross-legged with both hands in front of him. This gesture, known as the Dhyana Mudra, is considered to symbolise wisdom in the Buddhist tradition. The Buddha used the Dhyana Mudra during his final meditation, during which he attained enlightenment. Gandhara was an ancient region in the Peshawar basin in the north-west of the ancient Indian subcontinent. The Kushan period (c. 75-451 AD) of Gandharan art, to which this stucco figure belongs, was the golden age of artistic production in the area. Provenance: From the private collection of an Oxford gentleman; previously in an old British collection, formed in before 2000 on the UK / International art markets. Size: L:370mm / W:165mm ; 7.5kg