Terracotta, partly remnants of previous color and soil adhesions
Kingdom of Gandhara, ancient region around present-day Peshawar, 2nd/3rd century
Head fragment of a Bodhisattva with a magnificent headdress and earrings
Gentle expression and articulated facial features
Classic expression as a reference to the influence of Hellenistic sculpture
Mounted on a black metal base (later)
Height of head: approx. 21 cm
Good condition
Provenance: Private collection Cologne
Object is regular taxed. 19% VAT is added to the purchase price for deliveries within the EU.

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 Gandhara head is in good condition for its age, with signs of wear consistent with age. Little loss of material and chips are visible here and there. The height of the head measures 21 cm and mounted on a black metal base (later), the height is 25 cm.

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