Page 92 - Bonhams NYC Indian and Himalayan Art March 2019

882

882 883
A SCHIST RELIEF PANEL WITH SCENES OF BUDDHA’S FIRST A SCHIST FIGURE OF BUDDHA
SERMON AND PARINIRVANA ANCIENT REGION OF GANDHARA, 3RD/4TH CENTURY
ANCIENT REGION OF GANDHARA, 2ND/3RD CENTURY 27 3/4 in. (70.5 cm) high
6 1/2 x 18 in. (16.5 x 45.5 cm)
$30,000 - 50,000
$4,000 - 6,000
犍陀羅 三/四世紀 片巖佛像
犍陀羅 二/三世紀 片巖佛陀說法與涅槃石碑
The artist has carved a commanding sculpture of Buddha clad in
Repeated Seated Buddha images on the front and side edges of this a voluminous pleated robe with an arresting gaze. A diminutive
narrative panel depicting two scenes from Buddha’s life give it a strong bearded figure, possibly Vajrapani, with a bare torso and simple lower
sense of cohesion. The scene on the left shows Buddha’s passing garment, stands as if leaning against the Buddha with his elevated
into parinirvana. He is surrounded by mourners as he transcends the right elbow. Three other examples of large standing Buddhas attended
cycle of death and rebirth after reaching enlightenment. The scene to by diminutive figures are held in the Peshawar Museum (Kurita,
on the right depicts an earlier moment from Buddha’s life, signified by Gandharan Art, Vol.I, Tokyo, 2003, pp.161-2, nos.310-312).
the deer seated under his throne and his hand set upon a wheel to
his right. This scene depicts Buddha’s First Sermon at Deer Park – his Buddha’s slightly squat proportions, broad, mustachioed face with
first enunciation of his achieved liberation from the fetters of rebirth. large ears, and thick hair pulled in straight line over the ushinisha follow
Thus, the juxtaposition of these two scenes on a single panel appears a convention favored by Gandharan art of Swat Valley. Compare a
to forfeit chronology to instead impart a fundamental didactic on the seated Buddha held in the Royal Ontario Museum that also has a band
transcendent nature of the Buddha. The British Museum holds a of rosettes across the base (Kurita, Gandharan Art, II, Tokyo, 2003, p.
similar scene of Buddha’s First Sermon at Deer Park (1979,0130.1). 101, no. 264). Also compare Bonhams, New York, 19 March 2018, lot
3063.
Provenance
Private New Jersey Collection before 1969 Provenance
Dr. H. Erlenmeyer (1900-1967), Basel
E. Boos, Lausanne
Piguet, Geneva, 29 May 2015, lot 458

90 | BONHAMS