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Gandharan Terracotta Figure of the Bodhisattva Maitreya, 4th-6th Century
About the Item
A very rare and decidedly charming half-scale terracotta sculpture of the bodhisattva Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future, ancient region of Gandhara, Kushan Period, 4th - 6th century.
Maitreya is portrayed as a regal, princely figure. He stands in contrapposto, with his torso slightly twisted and bent at the waist, his right hand holding a sacred vase said to be filled with the elixir of life.
His left hand and arm, now missing, would most likely have been performing abhaya mudra, the gesture of dispelling fear.
Maitreya is dressed as a prince, with fine garments that cling to his body and drape beautifully around his youthful figure. He is adorned in jewelry, including necklaces, armbands, bracelets, earrings, and a diadem upon his head.
Maitreya's plump face is youthful and beatific. He looks outwards from exquisite almond shaped eyes under high arched brows. His thick hair falls in a cascade of full black curls, flowing down to his broad shoulders. An urna dots the center of his forehead.
TL tested. Custom mounted.
Height of figure only: 26"
Gandharan art crafted in terracotta is rare. Most figurative sculpture was carved of schist, or modeled in stucco.
Provenance:
Auctionata, Berlin, Germany, 2015
The collection of Arthur Huc (1854 to 1932), Toulouse, France, thence by descent. This piece was cataloged and sketched in an inventory of the estate in 1967.
Gandhara was a powerful and wealthy Central Asian region located between modern day Pakistan and Afghanistan. As one of the last remnants of Alexander the Great's empire, Hellenistic and Greco Roman culture mixed freely with the indigenous culture, creating the Greco-Bactrian kingdom in which Buddhism thrived. The Greco-Buddhist kingdom of Gandhara was among the first to create images of the Buddha, over 400 years after his death, to compete with the influx of Greek gods into the region, blending Western and Asian aesthetics to produce some of the most beautiful Buddhist art ever made.
- Dimensions:Height: 30.5 in (77.47 cm)Width: 11 in (27.94 cm)Depth: 7.5 in (19.05 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:4th-6th Century
- Condition:Additions or alterations made to the original: Custom wood and metal mount. Repaired: Slight repair and restoration to the nose. Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. Minor fading. In very good condition for age. Missing the left arm and the lower legs and feet. Slight loss and retouching to the nose. Some pigment remaining.
- Seller Location:Austin, TX
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU894723906122
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