Schist, 785 grams; 151.36mm. Circa 1st - 2nd Century B.C. A large moustached face probably from a freeze, with heavily set features surmounted by ornate crown an ornate emblem, most likely a representation of Prince Siddhartha, the Buddha, prior to his enlightenment. Typical of Gandharan sculptures of the period are the arched eyebrows; almond shaped half-closed eyes, and an undulating moustache. Siddhartha was born 563 B.C. as a prince, he abandoned his inheritance in order to dedicate his life to learning how to overcome suffering, later discovering what Buddhists calls the Middle Way-a path of moderation. Very Fine and Rare.

The Ghandaran Empire was in existence during the 3rd and 4th centuries A.D, and was located in what is now largely occupied by North West India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. The art and sculpture of the region that has come to be known as Gandhara combines Hellenistic or Greco-Roman artistic techniques and modeling with Indian Buddhist iconography to create a recognizably Indian hybrid. By the end of the 1st century these aesthetic traditions had developed into a recognizable Ghandaran style. Schist sculptures predate those made from stucco although both materials were used from an early date. Ghandaran artists were concerned with the naturalistic modeling and the rendering of garments and embellishment in realistic detail.