Grey stone. Gandhara, presumably approx. 3th to 4th cent.
The head, which is in very authentic condition, comes from an old aristocratic collection (see note below). The wavy hair and moustache are characteristic – the military campaign of Alexander the Great was responsible – of the late Greek (Hellenistic) influenced style of Gandhara in former Western India. Balanced curved contour of the eyes, lowered gaze, the moustasche swinging broadly over the small mouth. Elegant iron base and (intentional?) rust sprinkles.
HEIGHT HEAD 24 CM, TOTAL 35,5 CM
From the collection of a French aristocratic family, tracing back to the collection of Évariste Regis Huc (1813 – 1860). Évariste Regis Huc was a French missionary and explorer, who was world famous for his crossing of Mongolia, Tibet and China. He might have been also the first European to reach Lhasa in 1846. The collection was systematically recorded and documented, among was also the present object, however no indication of specific time of acquisition.