Gandharan Schist Relief - Buddha & Standing Figures

Central Asia, Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan, Gandharan Empire, ca. 2nd to 3rd century CE. A finely-carved grey schist relief depicting the Buddha standing in contrapposto, wearing a flowing robe, and presenting the Abhaya-vara mudra with one hand raised and the other down toward the knee - a gesture of fearlessness, representing protection, peace, and dispelling fear. He is flanked by five devotees, including a seated child, who extend a myriad of offerings to the benevolent figure in the middle. The figures are delineated in relief and framed by a decorated surround. The register below features cherubic figures holding a very large sinuous serpent upon their shoulders. Size: 1.75" L x 13" W x 12.5" H (4.4 cm x 33 cm x 31.8 cm); 15.75" H (40 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.

A stylistically-similar example at roughly one-third larger hammered for $13,750 at Christie's, New York "The Doris Wiener Collection" auction (sale 2640, March 20, 2012, lot 3): https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/sculptures-statues-figures/a-gray-schist-relief-with-buddha-and-5538657-details.aspx?from=searchresults&intObjectID=5538657&sid=69156745-b18e-4945-87d8-0d94923df09a

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-Tomatsu Miura collection, Japan, acquired in the 1980s

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#147190
Condition Report: A section from a relief. Uncarved on the verso. Losses to a few of the devotees' faces as shown and high-pointed areas of the decorative surround. Perforation below the elbow of devotee to the left of Buddha. Normal surface wear, but many details are still strong. Deposits grace the surface.