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Monumental Gandhāran capital

Ancient province of Gandhāra
3rd-4th century
Height: 20 cm – Width: 89 cm – Depth: 25,5 cm
Schist

This rare and large capital has an impressive size! The naturalness of the acanthus leaf motif, completely Greek, is smoothly associated with an image of a bodhisattva, a compassionate being, making the gesture of appeasement (abhaya mudrā). This piece, whose vegetal decoration is extremely refined, was supposed to surmount a pilaster framing a niche and in which was the probably monumental statue of a Buddha or a bodhisattva.

Provenance

Ancient private collection, Japan.

Publication(s)

Isao Kurita, Gandharan Art – The world of the Buddha, vol. 2, 1990

Exhibition(s)

Monumental Gandhāran capital