figure
- Museum number
- 1961,0519.7
- Title
- Object: The Buddha
- Description
-
Standing Buddha, originally in 'abhaya mudra'. The major drapery folds consist of widely spaced, low and especially well-rounded ridges, with the two schemes almost merging. The neckline has prominent folds.
The head is oval and the hair runs in dense and waved vertical bands into the uṣṇīṣa. The large concave ears stick out, the eyes have a low upper lid, and the ūrṇā is in low relief between long curving edges for eyebrows.
The body has a squat appearance, the broad flat torso with sloping shoulders receding inwards to the legs. The feet have long toes, the surviving hand has long fingers with nails, and both toes and fingers are very mechanically carved. Remains of a strut support the 'abhaya-mudra' hand, while the left hand secures the robe by a small loop; gathered drapery hanging below. The halo is very large and plain.
A flat backplate reinforces the figure above the base, which has a scene on the front framed by a sawtooth cornice, Corinthian pilasters and a plain fillet below. On the returns there is a similarly framed, raised field with panels diagonally bisected to form triangles, each containing an indented triangle. In the scene a Buddha sits in 'dhyāna-mudra', hands covered and the robe spreading to a straight edge. He sits on a rectangular podium with an undulating garland motif and leafy branches beside his head. He is flanked by male figures in 'uttarīya-mudra', hands joined in an expression of devotion.
- Production date
- 2ndC-3rdC
- Dimensions
-
Diameter: 11.30 centimetres
-
Height: 59 centimetres
-
Width: 24.50 centimetres (at halo)
- Curator's comments
- Zwalf, 1996:
The two schemes mentioned relate to the arrangement of the drapery folds on the over-robe or outer-garment of Gandharan standing Buddha figures. There are two types of folds: major and minor folds. The major folds may consist of usually rounded ridges in varying relief, which may also be a little undercut from above to form shallow pockets and more mechanically distributed terraces. In between them there may be minor folds, usually thin ribs in very low relief. The alternation of major and minor folds may continue down the whole body (see 1889.1109.1), or may be concentrated on the upper part of the body (see 1899.0715.1). There are also sculptures where the minor folds are almost wholly absent (see 1902.1002.11). The folds are usually arranged according to two basic rules: the folds above the middle are generally centred on the right side of the body, and those downwards from it are distributed along a vertical line between the legs.
- Location
- Not on display
- Condition
- 1.Light grey schist, broken, cracked and with soil incrustation.
2.Halo partly broken at the edges, as well as the 'abhaya mudra' forearm and robe edges.
3.Head rejoined, chin chipped and part of the base damaged.
4.The back is roughly flat, with some horizontal chisel grooves.
- Acquisition date
- 1961
- Department
- Asia
- Registration number
- 1961,0519.7