Gandharan Stone Panel Fragment - Siddhartha Leaves Home

Ancient Central Asia, Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan, Gandharan Empire, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. An attractive relief panel fragment, hand-carved from silver-gray schist, depicting the classic Buddhist scene of Prince Siddhartha leaving his home as well as his princely title and wealth in secret to seek enlightenment. Siddhartha is depicted on horseback while wearing flowing vestments and an elaborate coiffure as he waves to an onlooker or servant with his right hand. A pair of earth divinities are shown grabbing the hooves of his horse, Kanthaka, so that they will not make noise and alert the palace guards to his presence. Behind the prince is another divinity who shades him with a parasol. The figural scene is presented betwixt a pair of slender columns, and tenons along both the upper and lower peripheries indicate how this panel once fit into a larger figural scene. Size: 10.4" W x 6.7" H (26.4 cm x 17 cm)

Cf. The San Diego Museum of Art, accession number 1960.7.

Provenance: East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010

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#166075
Condition Report: This is a fragment of a larger relief panel as shown. Repairs to a few small areas of scene framing as well as front left hoof of horse, with small chips and light adhesive residue along break lines. Chips to peripheral areas and relief figures, with light encrustations, softening to some finer details, and minor abrasions across most surfaces commensurate with age. Nice preservation to horse and most figures. Tenons on bottom for attaching to a larger scene. Resin tube fragment on bottom likely part of old modern display stand.