GANDHARA, 2ND/3RD CENTURY

The lotus and cushion upon which the Buddha stands is typical for yakshis, niche figures used to seperate scenes in large reliefs. What is unusual is the combination of the upright and inverted lotuses which seems to be particular to depictions of the Buddha. For closely related examples of yakshi stands, see H. Ingholt, Gandharan Art in Pakistan,, 1957, cat. no. 364, and W. Zwalf, A Catalogue of the Gandhara Sculpture in the British Museum, cat. nos. 349-52, p. 202f. For an example of Buddha on the combined lotus, see Zwalf, ibid., cat. no. 256, p. 153.