57 cm.（22 1/8 in.）high

Gandharan Art developed in ancient times in the Northwestern Pakistan area，which extends into Eastern Afghanistan and Northwestern region of India；it has long been a centre of trade linking China，South Asia and the Mediterranean. In the 1st Century，many early Buddhist sculptures appeared in the Gandharan region. There are many variations in the representations of Buddha depending on the various artistic influences prevalent in particular areas and at particular times but most of the sculptures have prominent facial contours，with curly hair tied in an upward knot. They are sometimes seen dressed in a Greek himation covering one or both the shoulders，sometimes seen with an exposed upper body. These pieces were naturally inspired by the sculptural styles of Hellenistic Greece，and were later coined by archaeologists as Gandharan art. However，Ghandaran Art began to decline and suffered destruction after the invasion of the White Huns in the 5th Century. For a significant period of time Gandharan art was largely forgotten. However，Gandharan art continued to develop in the Swat and Kashmir regions. Therefore，through the Silk Road transmission，Buddhism eventually reached Eastern Asia and had a flux of artistic influences from Xinjiang，China as well as South East Asia.
This sculpture depicts the Prince Siddhartha sitting in front of a halo；he has an oval shaped face and very realistic facial features. Elaborate jewels such as the beaded turban，earrings，necklace，bracelets and armlet are worn to exhibit his identity as a royalty. Displaying a serene expression，he is seated crossed legged with one long flowing robe draped across his left shoulder. Both of his hands are placed in front of his chest in a gesture of wisdom where he grasps the tip of the raised forefinger of the clenched left hand with the clenched right hand holding a lotus flower.
A related example is in the Tokyo National Museum illustrated in Gandharan Art（II）—The World of the Buddha，Tokyo，2003，p. 57，pl. 141；another example is in the National Museum of Pakistan Karachi illustrated in Gandharan Art（II）—The World of the Buddha，Tokyo，2003，p. 58，pl. 142；and third similar example is in the British Museum illustrated in A Catalogue of the Gandhara Sculpture in the British Museum，British Museum Press，London，1996，pl. 70.

Provenance：
A Japanese Private Collection，acquired in the 1980s

Price estimate:
HKD：600,000-800,000
USD：77,400-103,200

Auction Result:
HKD: --