**Originally Listed At $1200**

Central Asia, Pakistan and Afghanistan, Gandharan Empire, ca. 2nd to 3rd century CE. A depiction of Buddha torso sitting in lotus position, hand-carved from grey schist in high relief. The ancient deity sits with his hands in the Abhaya Mudra, the gesture dispelling fear and signaling protection with fingers extended and held together as the hand points upwards. His slender body is clothed in carefully sculpted, flowing robes - the naturalistic folds and creases -note the fine attention to drapery; a classical stylistic quality inherited from Alexander the Great's conquest of Gandhara in 330 BCE. The flat verso suggests this figure was tucked into a wall niche of a shrine or temple. Size: 2.75" L x 8.75" W x 8.25" H (7 cm x 22.2 cm x 21 cm)

The Gandharan Empire made itself wealthy in part by controlling lucrative trade along the mountain passes between China in the East and the Near East and Mediterranean in the West; a great deal of this wealth went into local patronage of artisans and art. In the first century CE, Buddhism became fashionable amongst Gandharan elites, and the art produced at this time depicting the Buddha includes some of the most striking Buddhist images from the past. Their artistic tradition also reflects the conquest of Alexander the Great and the introduction of styles from all sides, blended into a uniquely Gandharan tradition. Alexander the Great conquered Gandhara in 330 BCE and with the help of the Indo-Greek kings introduced classical traditions that would influence Gandharan art for the following seven centuries.

Provenance: East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010

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#177284

Fragment of a larger piece as shown with old losses. Missing head and left hand and right fingers. Great remaining details and light mineral deposits.