Gandharan Schist Relief - Procession to Buddha Stupa

Central Asia, Pakistan, Swat Valley, Gandharan Empire, ca. 300 to 500 CE. A finely-carved grey schist relief depicting a procession to venerate the remains of Lord Buddha contained inside a stupa (Sanskrit for heap - after its form) illustrated in three vignettes separated by classical columns. All is finely carved in low to high relief. The earliest Buddhist stupas housed Buddha's ashes; hence the stupa (as depicted in the leftmost panel of this relief) was associated with the venerable Buddha and the path to Enlightenment in addition to a mountain and the universe. By adding Buddha's ashes to the stupa, the stupa embodied the energy of the Enlightened One. Buddha's ashes were buried in stupas erected in locations that were associated with significant events in Buddha’s life. These included Lumbini (his birthplace), Bodh Gaya (where Buddha achieved Enlightenment), Deer Park at Sarnath (where Buddha preached his first sermon on the Four Noble Truths (dharma or the law), and Kushingara (the site of his death). Size: 17.5" W x 3.625" H (44.4 cm x 9.2 cm); 5.125" H (13 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.

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex Spinks Collection, London, UK; ex Earl Stendahl Collection, Los Angeles, California, USA, collected 1950-1960

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#150933
Condition Report: A section from a relief. Uncarved on the verso. Losses to peripheries, a few of the devotees' faces as shown and other high-pointed areas. Normal surface wear, but many details are still strong. Deposits grace the surface.