gable
- Museum number
- 1917,1009.9
- Description
-
Left-hand quadrant from the middle section of a false gable panel showing a large Buddha figure and worshippers facing away into the lost central compartment of the panel. The curved oversailing outer border has sawtooth enrichment and, at the bottom, a beaked head as volute, the neck with a cross-hatched pattern (scales), the right ear flat and beside it, over the beak, a hairy tuft or plume. On the right is a narrow vertical register of male and female busts worshipping in balconies with hands joined or holding flowers at their right shoulder. The parapets consist of stellate petals, an openwork triangle pattern under hanging drapery and a chequerboard pattern with sawtooth enrichment above.
In the outer curved register of the quadrant are three kneeling naked amorini joining their hands; they have long hair, chignons, collars and bracelets. A large Buddha is seated on the obconical gynoecium of a dome-shaped lotus with stamens and two downturned rows of centrally grooved petals. The Buddha has a bordered halo, a long neck, a broad, rather flat torso, grooved and ridged drapery folds and large hands in dhyāna held at a slant from the body. Edges of the robe fall from the arms onto the knees and in a semi-circle below the hands.
In the inner quadrant three worshippers with long hair and chignon forward, bracelets and uttarīya, join their hands. Two have long hair, the smallest short hair and earpendants.
All have rounded and protruding eyes except the Buddha, whose eyes are narrow slits.
- Production date
- 2ndC-3rdC
- Dimensions
-
Diameter: 9 centimetres
-
Height: 32 centimetres
-
Width: 41.90 centimetres
- Location
- Not on display
- Condition
- 1.Grey schist, chipped, cracked and worn.
2.Top of curving cornice flat and rough; right side straight, flat and rough; bottom partly flat and smooth with continuation of seated Buddha's lotus carved on underside and traces of a tenon on left.
3.Back with vertical chisel grooves.
4.Large circular pinhole from front to back.
- Acquisition date
- 1917
- Acquisition notes
- Formerly in the Hope Collection. This piece was part of lot 159 at Christie's sale of Hope heirlooms on 23-4 July 1917.
- Department
- Asia
- Registration number
- 1917,1009.9