Central Asia, Northwest Pakistan, Gandharan Empire, ca. 2nd to 3rd century CE. A lively schist relief depicting a celebratory scene of 2 bare-chested females, one playing the flute and the other dancing. The musician holds her instrument diagonally across her chest as she sits with legs bent in a type of squatting position and looks to her left. Her partner balances on one foot in a stomping motion, both arms outspread in an ecstatic pose. Both wear sarongs wrapped around their lower bodies as well as bangles, anklets, and serpentine headdresses. A pillar to the right separates them from a third figure who wears a tunic and raises his right hand, perhaps in a gesture of blessing or greeting. Size: 10.5" W x 7.3" H (26.7 cm x 18.5 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 included 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 Western aesthetics, blended into a uniquely Gandharan tradition.

Cf. Ashmolean Museum at Oxford, accession number EA1997.15.

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

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#177291

Fragment of a larger piece with chipping to peripheries and raised areas, as well loss of figure on right and softening of detail throughout. Surface wear as shown. Otherwise, nice preservation of decorative program.