ANCIENT REGION OF GANDHARA, 3RD-4TH CENTURY CE

The present relief follows a standard Buddhist triad compositional type. Here, Buddha is seated between two bodhisattvas, Avalokiteshvara on his proper right, and Maitreya on his left. Indra and Brahma emerge from behind, between the bodhisattvas and Buddha, while a proto-yaksha figure drapes a garland in the tree above Buddha. Compare the work to similarly composed Buddhist triads from Gandhara, including lot 410 in the present sale.