A set of two rounded gray schist stupa reliefs

GANDHARA, 2ND/3RD CENTURY

Details

A set of two rounded gray schist stupa reliefs
Gandhara, 2nd/3rd Century
The first with a Buddha at center backed by a nimbus, flanked by the elephant emerging from a doorframe at left and three devotees bearing gifts at right, a column within a niche at either end, all below a border with a lotus petal pattern; the second depicting the Buddha twice, addressing a kneeling devotee below a frond of leaves at left, and surrounded by attendant figures at right, both scenes separated by a column within a niche at center and a further column at far right
15 in. (38.1 cm.), the widest (2)

Provenance

Private Collection, Japan, 1980

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Lot Essay

The first relief may represent the Buddha's taming of the elephant Nalagiri, who had been inebriated by Buddha's jealous cousin Devadatta, making him wild. Upon encountering the Buddha, however, Nalagiri immediately calmed down; for another example, see I. Kurita, Gandharan Art, vol. I, fig. P3-XI, p. 144.

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