A rare and important gray schist relief with the teaching Buddha

GANDHARA, 2ND/3RD CENTURY

細節

A rare and important gray schist relief with the teaching Buddha
Gandhara, 2nd/3rd century
Very finely and deeply carved with the Buddha seated on a double-lotus throne in an arched niche at center, hands in the teaching mudra, with kneeling acolytes on both sides of the throne, further adorative figures in the arch above the pillars with flying celestial beings draping garlands over his head, the upper niche with the Buddha surrounded by further devotees, the frieze below filled with the Seven Buddhas flanked by Maitreya at left and female attendants and elephant with a child at right, the upper edge of all three niches with a dentil border
27½ in. (70 cm.) high

來源

Sotheby's London, 4 July 1978, lot 446.
Japanese Private Collection, since 1978.

出版

I. Kurita, Gandharan Art, vol. 2, 2003, fig. 294, p. 109.

展覽

Nara National Museum, Special Exhibition of Arts of Buddha Shakyamuni, 1984, cat. no. 50.
Nara National Museum, Special Exhibition, Bodhisattva, 1987, cat. no. 4, ill. in color.

拍場告示

Please note the correct estimate for this property is $350,000-$400,000.

拍品專文

This architectural carving would originally have adorned the exterior of a stupa. The sides are gently rounded on the back and the carving is exceptionally well executed and in overall crisp and original condition.
The combination of scenes is striking: The large central image of the Teaching Buddha on an elaborate lotus base can be associated with the miracle of Sravasti; compare with a related frieze sold at Christie's New York, 23 September 2004, lot 29. The arched niche above illustrates Buddha's previous state as a Bodhisattva flanked by attendants, while the base register depicts the Seven Last Buddhas of our age flanked by Maitreya as the Buddha of the Future. The architectural details are very finely observed and animated with numerous animals and figures in adoration, a tour-de-force of the Gandharan decorative repertoire.