An important gray schist figure of Maitreya

GANDHARA, 2ND/3RD CENTURY

Details

An important gray schist figure of Maitreya
Gandhara, 2nd/3rd century
Standing with his left hand lowered holding the bottle containing the elixir of immortality, wearing a dhoti with elaborate cascading folds and secured with a finely detailed sash at the waist, a further cloak draped across his shoulder in an elegant sweeping curve, beaded necklaces and armlets, his face with a serene expression with crisply delineated features and hair tied in a looped topknot, backed by a round nimbus inscribed with the Buddhist creed
54 in. (137 cm.) high

Provenance

Christie's London, 12 April 1988, lot 212
Private Collection, Japan

Sale room notice

Please note the correct estimate for this lot is $250,000-$350,000

Lot Essay

This figure displays remarkable aspects in the carving of the drapery, with elaborate and complex treatment and observation. It is extremely rare to find the Buddhist creed inscribed on the halo.
This sculpture set a record for the field when it was last offered by Christie's in London in April 1988.

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