A green schist stupa peg with an elephant head

GANDHARA, 3RD CENTURY

Details

A green schist stupa peg with an elephant head
Gandhara, 3rd Century
The head emerging from the center of a lotus blossom, his trunk raised to his forehead, adorned with a beaded headband that crisscrosses the length of his trunk
3 in. (7.6 cm.) high

Provenance

Private Collection, Japan, 1980

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Lot Essay

The use of similar pegs on stupas to hold up garlands is well attested on representations of stupas at Chatpat; for a further discussion and another example of an elephant peg, see C. Luczanits, The Buddhist Heritage of Pakistan: Art of Gandhara, 2011, p. 73.

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