LOT 0445

'The Kelton' Gandharan Head of a Bodhisattva

3RD-6TH CENTURY A.D.

13 3/8 in. (14.3 kg total, 34 cm high).

Carved in the half-round head of a Bodhisattva (probably Maitreya) with fine detailing to the arched brow, aquiline nose, neat moustache and full lips; the eyes heavily lidded, urna to the forehead, long open lobes to the ears; the hair in multi-stranded curling locks gathered into an ushnisha with brow-band below; heavily cleaned, conserved, and mounted on a custom-made stand; supplied with original old wooden base with collector's label: 'Head of Bodhisattva / Fine grain schist / Gandhara, Northwest Pakistan / 4th century'.

From the private collection of Richard Kelton (1929-2019), California, USA, acquired in November 1982, thence by descent.
with Abell Auctions, 25 September 2022, no.422 (£25,000) Acquired by the present owner at the above sale.

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12309-222166.

Exhibited at Frieze Masters, London, 2023.

Cf. Jongeward, D., Buddhist Art of Gandhara in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, 2018, items 75, 77, for type.