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Peshawar: Head of a Bodhisattva
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Peshawar: Head of a Bodhisattva
PAKISTAN, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Peshawar; circa 2nd–3rd century; Schist; H: 23 cm; Victoria and Albert Museum, London, United Kingdom
A disc secured behind a clip rises from the middle of the Bodhisattva's intricately tied turban. This type of decoration is often seen on statues of the Gandharan period, and is a feature of Indian crowns. The figure has an urna above the eyebrows, and a curled mustache beneath the hooded eyes and broad nose. The back of the head is not completely smooth, suggesting that the sculpture might have been attached to a nimbus behind the head. Technical analysis reveals the sculpture was originally gilded and painted. |
