Gandharan Terracotta Head

A carved schist head with tightly curled hair, wreath to the brow with a vine-leaf at each temple, curled moustache and beard, ears with long lobes; mounted on a custom-made stand. 3.75 kg, 29.5 cm



Acquired 1960-1980s. From an important London, W1, collection. Private collection, England.

With the arrival of Greek colonists into Central Asia and Northern India and the establishment of the Indo-Greek kingdom, came Greek culture and religion which merged with that of the local population. Greek deities, such as Dionysus, were often merged with Buddhist deities, or worshipped in their own right. The image of Dionysus as a mature male with beard and wreath is often referred to as the Indian Dionysus as it depicts the god after his triumphant return from the East with his retinue of Maenads. The adventures of Dionysus in India are recounted in the Greek epic poem, the Dionysiaca. The image of Dionysus returning from India in a chariot pulled by tigers was a favourite for Classical artists and often appeared on sarcophagi as an allegory for the rebirth of the soul. Drinking wine, dancing, and music making were popular subjects for the embellishment of early Buddhist religious centres. The Buddha condemned intoxicants, and music and dance were considered unfit for the monastic community, although they were tolerated in lay contexts. The reason for the depiction of scenes of revelry, along with the Greek god Dionysus, may be the earlier, pre-Buddhist practices celebrating abundance and agricultural prosperity, which involved wine drinking. Dionysus may have been transformed and and understood in the Gandharan context as the South Asian god Indra, whom lay followers would have known as the deity who rules over the paradise known as the Trayastrimsa heaven. As the lay Buddhist community was more concerned with having a positive rebirth (enlightenment being out of reach for all but the most learned of monks) the idea of being reborn in a heaven associated with Indra would no doubt have been attractive. It is thought that the influence of Dionysus on Indian culture may have inspired the development of the Hindu deities Shiva and Krishna, both of whom share similar characteristics to the Greek god.

Both framed and glazed with information cards to the reverses: a Northern Indian Mughal Qur'an leaf dated 1780 A.D., with prayers copied from Mulla Fathullah's Tafsir commentary in Naskh script, interlinear Persian translation throughout in red Nasta'liq in the margins, together with illuminated devices, with gold embellishment; an illuminated manuscript from a Dala'il prayer book, written in Naskh script framed by golden clouds, central borders of meandering vines; each with explanatory label to reverse of frame. 1 kg total, 28.7 x 23.5 cm each



Acquired by the vendor's father on the UK art market, before 1990.

Composed of polished carnelian beads including spherical, conical, drum, oval and other types, etched with geometric designs. 41 grams total, 6-14 mm



UK gallery, early 2000s.