A grey schist stone head of the Bodhisattva Shakyamuni

Gandhara, 3rd /4th century

Height: 25cm

This superbly modelled head is crisply carved and finished with a high polish. The Bodhisattva’s serene countenance is well defined with heavy lidded eyes under arched eyebrows centred by the raised urna, an aquiline nose, a broad wavy moustache above his closed lips and a pronounced chin. The hair falls behind his ears in thick curls under his elaborate turban embellished with floral medallions and a centrepiece flanked by makaras (auspicious water creatures), in the style usually associated with the Bodhisattva Shakyamuni in Gandhara art. Behind his head is the remains of the now missing circular nimbus.