Gandharan Schist Head of Prince Siddhartha

**Originally Listed At $2200**

Central Asia, Pakistan and Afghanistan, Gandharan Empire, ca. 200 BCE to 100 CE. An evocative hand-carved grey schist head of Buddha, presenting a sensitively modeled face with solemn, half-closed eyes of an elegant almond shape, a long nose, and a gentle smile with an impressive mustache above it. The hair is styled into a large ushnisha with an interesting lotus-flower like ornament over it. A crown is visible at the temples. A special example of Greco-Buddhist art that demonstrates a strong syncretism between eastern and western traditions. Size: 4.9" W x 8" H (12.4 cm x 20.3 cm); 11.25" H (28.6 cm) on included custom stand.

The Gandharan Empire made itself wealthy in part by controlling lucrative trade along the mountain passes between China in the East and the Near East and Mediterranean in the West; a great deal of this wealth went into local patronage of artisans and art. In the first century CE, Buddhism became fashionable amongst Gandharan elites, and the art produced at this time depicting the Buddha are some of the most striking Buddhist images from the past. Their artistic tradition also reflects the conquest of Alexander the Great and the introduction of styles from all sides, blended into a uniquely Gandharan tradition, which this Buddha exemplifies. Alexander the Great conquered Gandhara in 330 BCE and with the help of the Indo-Greek kings introduced classical traditions that would influence Gandharan art for the following seven centuries. The stylized wavy Mediterranean hair and top knot that derive from the Apollo Belvedere (330 BCE), as well as the sensitive modeling of the tranquil face displayed on this piece, for example, exhibit this classical influence.

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-Mazard Family collection, France and New York, USA, acquired in the 1980s

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#146212
Condition Report: Losses to sides, top, and back of head, but the face and much of the front of the hair are beautifully preserved aside from a small loss from the side of the nose. Light deposits on surface.