A fragmentary head of a Bodhisattva in stucco. The Bodhisattva's turban and decorative features imply that the head is possibly an image of Shakyamuni (Gautama Buddha, regarded as the founder of Buddhism) prior to his enlightenment. Plain reverse.
Mounted on a perspex stand.
 
Gandhara: Circa 4th-5th century AD.
 
Fine condition generally; with earthy accretions.
Height including stand 10.6 cms (4.1 ins ).
 
Provenance: Ex. estate of Professor Victor Chan (1947-2020), Alberta, Canada and thence by inheritance. Acquired in London before 1990. Victor Chan taught art history at the University of Alberta, retiring as Professor Emeritus in 2000. Professor Chan purchased the majority of his collection from smaller London dealerships including Tetragon, George Lambor, M. Ayres and Old Drury during visits to the UK during the early 1980's.
 
Much Gandharan art was damaged, looted and destroyed through war and religious iconoclasm during the past thirty years, culminating in the destruction of the famed Bamiyan Buddhas in 2001. The acquisition of this fragment pre-dates this deeply troubled period.
 
These sculptures, made from a pliable lime- and gypsum-based plaster, were used to decorate monastic buildings and often feature a blend of Eastern and Western influences, such as Greco-Roman styles combined with Indian Buddhist iconography. The stucco medium allowed for great plasticity, enabling a high degree of expressiveness and detail in the figures.