A Gray Schist Relief of Dipankara

GANDHARA, 2ND/3RD CENTURY

Details

A Gray Schist Relief of Dipankara
Gandhara, 2nd/3rd Century
Depicting Sumati bowing before the Dipankara Buddha, spreading his long hair for Buddha to cross the muddy terrain, all deeply carved within a sawtooth border
12¾ in. (32.3 cm.)

Provenance

Julian Sherrier Collection, London, since mid 1970's

Lot Essay

According to the legend, when the Dipankara Buddha announced his visit to a certain town, the king reserved all available flowers to pay him proper homage. The young ascetic Sumati was unable to buy any flowers until he met a young girl by chance who had obtained some lotuses - here depicted on the left standing in a doorway. When he tossed the lotuses at Dipankara they remained suspended in mid air around the head of the Buddha and Sumati prostrated himself before him. The second miracle - Sumati rising into the sky after the Dipankara's prediction, is also included in form of a round vignette.

More from Indian and Southeast Asian Art including Modern and

View All