A GREY SCHIST FIGURE OF A BODHISATTVA

Description:

Ancient Gandhara region, 2nd/3rd c.
H. 36 cm
Seated with his legs crossed on a throne sculpted to the front with a scene in deep relief of each five standing and kneeling worshippers facing a central relic, both hands resting in dhyanamudra on his lap, wearing dhoti secured with a belt around his middle, scarf draped over his left shoulder with its streamers encircling his arms, bejewelled, his face displaying a serene expression with downcast eyes below slightly arched eyebrows running into his nose-bridge, moustache framing his lips, elongated earlobes with large ear-ornaments, his hair combed in a chignon decorated with a turban, head-halo behind and topped with the leaves of the bodhi-tree, pair of drilled holes at the halo for original attachment to the back wall
South German private collection, acquired from Blue Elephant, Art & Antiques, 15.11.2013, private collection Dr. E. Amkreutz bougth in the 1980s from Jean Moreau-Gobard, Paris (by repute)
Cf. A similar figure of the Bodhisattva Siddharta, dated 4th c., sold at Sotheby's New York, 22.9.2000, lot 115
Traces of age, slightly chipped