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A SCHIST FRIEZE OF BUDDHA ANCIENT REGION OF GANDHARA, 2ND/3RD CENTURY image 1
A SCHIST FRIEZE OF BUDDHA ANCIENT REGION OF GANDHARA, 2ND/3RD CENTURY image 2
A SCHIST FRIEZE OF BUDDHA ANCIENT REGION OF GANDHARA, 2ND/3RD CENTURY image 3
Lot 3223

A SCHIST FRIEZE OF BUDDHA
ANCIENT REGION OF GANDHARA, 2ND/3RD CENTURY

20 March 2018, 18:30 EDT
New York

Sold for US$81,250 inc. premium

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A SCHIST FRIEZE OF BUDDHA

ANCIENT REGION OF GANDHARA, 2ND/3RD CENTURY
Himalayan Art Resources item no.61530
12 5/8 x 11 3/8 in. (32 x 29 cm)

Footnotes

犍陀羅 二/三世紀 片巖佛陀碑

Of the finest quality in carving, and finished with an alluring polish, this frieze is among the most distinctive Gandharan panels for its restrained use of negative space, focusing our attention on its single, complete subject: Buddha meditating under the Bodhi tree.

His figure exhibits the classic Gandharan style, wearing a monastic robe covering both shoulders that drapes naturalistically across his torso and ankles, and pulls taut around the knees. His handsome face has slightly upturned lips and dimples that exude the hint of smile under his calm, meditative expression. His hair pulled over the domed ushnisha is carved with exquisite wavy lives, redolent of the sun's brilliant rays.

A double nimbus in low relief frames him, emphasizing his enlightened status. According to Dr. Pal, this feature is extremely rare in Gandharan art appearing in only one other instance to his knowledge (Pal, Asian Art at the Norton Simon Museum, vol.1, 2003, p.57, no.25). However, the double nimbus certainly proliferates throughout Central Asia and China among images that Gandharan art comes to inform, such as a c.700 printed handscroll of repeated Preaching Buddha images found in Cave 17 at Dunhuang held in The British Museum (acc.#1919,0101,0.254).

Regarding the panel's original architectural context within the ancient region of Gandhara's stupas and monasteries, the composition is framed by two lintels with a trapezoidal gap above the seated Buddha which probably served as a hinge device attaching this panel to another element above it. Compare with another architectural tile featuring the same dovetailed notch in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (acc.#1980.527.4).

Lastly, the treatment of the lotus pedestal is another intriguing feature of this refined work. The unadorned petals are divided by a deeply carved line, giving an abstract quality to a composition that is otherwise informed by a high figural sensibility. This style of lotus petals is also present in other works in the British Museum (acc.#1886,0618.14 & 1902,1002.47).

Published
Simon Ray Ltd, Indian & Islamic Art, London, 2014, no.3.

Provenance
Collection of Dr. Ernst A. Lomnitz, acquired 1930s
Thence by descent to Georgina Lomnitz in 1985
Simon Ray Ltd, London, 10 September 2014

Additional information

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TÊTE DE BODHISATTVA EN STUC Ancienne région du Gandhara, IIIe-Ve siècle

TÊTE DE BOUDDHA EN SCHISTE Ancienne région du Gandhara, IVe siècle

STATUE DE BOUDDHA EN SCHISTE GRIS Ancienne région du Gandhara, II-IIIe siècle

TÊTE DE BOUDDHA EN STUC Ancienne région du Gandhara, IVe-Ve siècle

PANNEAU EN RELIEF EN SCHISTE GRIS REPRÉSENTANT POSSIBLEMENT LA GRANDE RENONCIATION OU L'INTERPRÉTATION DU RÊVE DE MAYA AU ROI SUDDHODANA Ancienne région du Gandhara, IIe-IIIe siècle

STATUETTE DE DIVINITÉ FÉMININE DEBOUT EN TERRE CUITE Inde, Période Maurya-Sunga, IIe-Ier siècle avant J.C.

STÈLE DE FIGURE DEBOUT TENANT UN ARC ET DES FLÈCHES EN GRÈS ROUGE Inde centrale, Madhya Pradesh, Style Khajuraho, XIe siècle

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STÈLE EN PIERRE NOIRE REPRÉSENTANT DURGA TUANT LE DÉMON MAHISHA Bangladesh, XIe-XIIe siècle

STATUETTE DE DURGA MAHISHASURAMARDINI EN ALLIAGE DE CUIVRE AVEC TRACES DE POLYCHROMIE Inde, province d'Assam, XVIIe siècle

POIGNARD EN ACIER DAMASQUINÉ D'OR, KATAR DJAMADHAR Inde, moghole, Rajasthan, XIXe siècle

CLOCHE RITUELLE EN BRONZE Indonésie, Java, XIe siècle

RELIQUAIRE EN BRONZE Thaïlande, Sukhothai, XIVe-XVe siècle

BUSTE DE BOUDDHA COURONNÉ EN TERRE CUITE Thaïlande, Haripunjaya, XIIIe siècle

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ÉPÉE À POIGNÉE EN ARGENT NIELLO, DHA, ET SON FOURREAU Birmanie, XIXe siècle

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TÊTE DE BOUDDHA EN BRONZE Thaïlande, époque Ayutthaya, XVe-XVIe siècle

STATUETTE DE BOUDDHA MARAVIJAYA COURONNÉ EN BRONZE Nord de la Thaïlande, époque Lan Na, XVIe siècle

STATUE DE BOUDHA EN BRONZE DORÉ Thaïlande, Bangkok, XIXe siècle

STATUE DE VISHNU CHEVALANT GARUDA EN BOIS SCULPTÉ Thaïlande, XIXe siècle

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