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6

Schist Relief, Scenes from the Life of Buddha, 2nd/3rd C.

Currency:EUR Category:Collectibles Start Price:800.00 EUR Estimated At:1,280.00 - 1,600.00 EUR
Schist Relief, Scenes from the Life of Buddha, 2nd/3rd C.
Gray schist
Gandhara, 2nd/3rd century
Slightly curved relief fragment
Three horizontal images, which are separated from each other by a garland frieze
In the lower section two scenes from the life of Buddha with a hermit and an elephant, divided by columns
Above a border with arabesques
The top section with Bodhisattvas with curved bows
Literature: Isao Kurita, Gandharan Art. I. The Buddha's Life Story, Tokyo 1988, p. 144, fig. P3-XI
On black lacquered wooden base (later)
Dimensions (without base): 21 x 30 cm
Condition consistent with age
Provenance: Collection of Jack Zuberbühler, Switzerland
Object is regular taxed. Differential taxation is not possible

The relief fragmet depicts a legendary scene from the life of Buddha, called Jataka. The elephant is an allusion of the history of domesticated elephants of Buddha. The left area shows Buddha at the visit of a hermit (cf. Isao Kurita, Gandharan Art. I. The Buddha's Life Story, Tokyo 1988, p. 144, fig. P3-XI).



Kingdom of Gandhara

The kingdom of Gandhara lasted for around 15 centuries, from 530 BC, as a province of the Persian Empire to 1021 AD, when its last king was murdered by his own troops. The ancient kingdom of Gandhara stretched across parts of present-day Afghanistan and Pakistan. It was an important commercial center of the Middle East, many centuries before the birth of the Prophet Mohammed. But Gandhara was also a jewel of Buddhist civilization and influential in the development of early Mahayana Buddhism.

Gandhara is noted for the distinctive Gandhara style in Buddhist art, which developed out of a merger of Greek, Syrian, Persian and Indian artistic influence. Gandharan style flourished and achieved its peak during the Kushan period, from the 1st to the 5th century. In the first century AD, Gandhara was the birthplace of some of the earliest Buddhist images – until then only symbolic representations had been prevailing. This new imagery became a model for all later depictions of Buddha.



Condition: The fragment is in fair condition consistent with age. It measures 21 x 30 cm (height x width).

Provenance: Collection of Jack Zuberbühler, Switzerland


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