TWO GRAY SCHIST RELIEFS WITH SCENES FROM THE LIFE OF THE BUDDHA

GANDHARA, 2ND/3RD CENTURY

Details

TWO GRAY SCHIST RELIEFS WITH SCENES FROM THE LIFE OF THE BUDDHA
GANDHARA, 2ND/3RD CENTURY
The first relief with two scenes framed and separated by pilasters, depicting Siddhartha at right riding his horse obliquely through a gate before two figures, and again at left seated in meditation; the second relief with three scenes framed by short pilasters, from right to left depicting Buddha seated under a tree between two figures, Buddha seated on the ground in profile and backed by a nimbus looking at the Bodhi tree with a figure in reverence standing behind, and Buddha spinning the Wheel of Law surrounded by five monks
12 ¾ in. (32.4 cm.) long, the first and 11 ¾ in. (29.8 cm.) long, the second

Provenance

Collection of Rita Perry, Lörrach, Germany, acquired between 1963-1972

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Leiko Coyle

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Lot Essay

These scenes show iconic moments of the Buddha's life, including the Great Departure in the first relief, the turning of the Wheel of Law in the second, and Buddha in meditation in both. For a large seated figure of Buddha in his quintessential moment of turning the Wheel of Law, shown by his hand gesture in dharmachakramudra, see lot 4005.

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