G760.10 A RED SANDSTONE HEAD OF THE BUDDHA


India

 

G760.10 A RED SANDSTONE HEAD OF THE BUDDHA

NORTHERN INDIA, UTTAR PRADESH, MATHURA

GUPTA PERIOD

CIRCA 5TH CENTURY

H. 18 CMS, 7 INS

A superb mottled red sandstone head of Buddha, with eyes half-open in meditation and the mouth set with a gentle smile, the hair with rows of large snail-shell curls rising to a cranial protuberance (usnisha), the neck with three rings referring to his former princely status.

For a similar head please see cat. no. 27 in A. Okada, Sculptures Indiennes du Musée Guimet, Paris: Réunion des Musées Nationaux, 2000.

 Provenance: Private English Collection.

Acquired during the family’s long service in India between 1946 and 1967.