GANDHARAN SCHIST TORSO OF BUDDHA

Ca. AD 100 - 300. A schist stone torso of Buddha. He is depicted wearing a sanghati robe and a ushnisha topknot. His facial features displays the characteristic Kashan period long pendulous ears and drooping eyes. His forehead is decorated with the Urna dot which represents the third eye that can see beyond the material limits of the world. The position of the arms suggests the Abhayamudra position. This gesture symbolised peace and safety, and it was intended to dispel fear. The Buddha form was used to depict both the original Buddha Siddharth Gautama as well as anyone who became a Buddha by achieving Nirvana. The Buddha was not depicted in sculpture in Gandhara until the 1st century AD, before which he was only alluded to with symbols. From this time onwards, Gandharan art depicted Buddha with a captivating mix of traditional Buddhist iconography and style, using the naturalism and soft features of Classical art, since this region was greatly influenced by the conquests of Alexander the Great many centuries earlier and the subsequent Greek settlers. Mounted on a custom-made stand. Size: 270mm x 235mm; Weight: 6.99kg Provenance: From the collection of a London gentleman; formerly acquired in the early 2000s in France; previously in 1970s European collection. This item has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database and comes with a confirmation letter.