AN IMPORTANT GRAY SCHIST FIGURE OF BUDDHA SEATED ON THE LION THRONE, ANCIENT REGION OF GANDHARA

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AN IMPORTANT GRAY SCHIST FIGURE OF BUDDHA SEATED ON THE LION THRONE, ANCIENT REGION OF GANDHARA Kushan period, 2nd-3rd century AD. Magnificently carved, the figure depicted seated in dhyanasana upon a throne draped with an elegantly pleated cloth and supported by two stylized lions, the entire composition rising from a large lotus blossom. His hands are joined in dhyana mudra, resting in his lap, while his body is clad in a long, flowing robe whose finely carved pleats cascade gracefully across the torso before gathering around the legs. The sensitively modeled face conveys a serene meditative expression, characterized by heavy-lidded eyes, a slender nose, and full lips, all flanked by elongated pendulous earlobes. The hair is arranged in neatly rendered wavy locks and gathered into a topknot secured with a ribbon, backed by a large circular halo. Dimensions: Height 75.5 cm This image of the Buddha clad in robes of draping folds and seated with his hands gently resting in his lap epitomizes the classical style of sculpture coming from the ancient region of Gandhara. Spanning from the 1st through the 5th centuries C.E., the ancient region of Gandhara comprised of the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent and held a vital political and cultural position along the Silk Road. The long and dynamic history of the region included epic conquerors, including Darius (550-486 BC), Alexander the Great (356-323 BC), and Menander (342/41 -290 BC), all of who expanded the Hellenic worldview across the territory. In 60 AD, when the Kushans conquered the region, their political and economic prowess combined with the refined philosophies of the local Indic Buddhist religion marked an apex of political, religious and cultural syncretism for nearly four centuries largely influencing distant regions in both Central Asia and China. The Greco-Roman style, characterized by a symmetry of form, blended seamlessly with the spiritual philosophies of the Mahayana Buddhists. The ideals of human beauty and proportion within the Classical world were easily assimilated to the religious aims of the Mahayana Buddhists, whose ultimate nirvana lay in their practices of selfless service to humanity. At the heart of these teachings was the example of the Buddha, who achieved enlightenment and dedicated his life thereafter to teaching others the path to attain nirvana. The seated Buddha is the most iconic image of the Gandharan artistic canon, integrating the proportions of the Classical style with the internal meditative equilibrium achieved by Shakyamuni Buddha. The undulating waves of hair rising into a prominent top-knot, the almond-shaped eyes and rounded face framed in a halo, the fall of the drapery over the body and legs, the restful posture of meditation, all seen in this fine example, are hallmarks of Gandharan style. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related gray schist figure of the seated Buddha on a lion throne, dated 1st-3rd century, 52 cm high, in the Museum of Asian Art, Berlin, identification number I 74. Compare a related schist figure of the preaching Buddha seated on a lotus throne, dated 2nd-3rd century, 66 cm high, in the Portland Art Museum, accession number 59.14. Compare a closely related gray schist figure of Buddha, dated 2nd-3rd century, 95 cm high, in the British Museum, registration number 1895,1026.1. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 20 September 2021, lot 355 Price: USD 126,000 or approx. EUR 131,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling, manner of carving, and subject. Note the smaller size (57.8 cm) and different base. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s New York, 20 September 2006, lot 28 Price: USD 108,000 or approx. EUR 133,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the related subject, modeling, and manner of carving, with similar lotus throne. Note the size (91.5 cm) and surrounding apsaras on the halo.

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