A Rare Bronze Figure of Buddha Shakyamuni

GANDHARA, CIRCA 6TH CENTURY

Details

A Rare Bronze Figure of Buddha Shakyamuni
Gandhara, circa 6th Century
Standing with his feet slightly splayed on a square plinth, his right hand raised in abhaya mudra, with webbed fingers and the dharmachakra incised on the palm, his left hand lowered holding the tip of his robe, wearing a loosly fitted robe falling in a series of looped pleats from his shoulders and down across his arms, his face with a benign expression with large almond-shaped eyes beneath arched brows, pursed lips and flanked by pendulous lobes, his hair tightly curled and with a domed ushnisha
12.7/8 in. (32.6 cm.) high

Lot Essay

Gandharan bronze sculpture is rare but generally follows a clearly defined prototype of a figure of Buddha standing on a waisted pedestal, cf. U. von Schroeder, Indo-Tibetan Bronzes, 1981, pl. 4A-I. While the dating varies from the 2nd Century to as late as the 7th Century for Post-Gandharan pieces, the present example most likely is of a late Gandharan period.

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