A GRAY SCHIST FRIEZE DEPICTING BUDDHA’S FIRST SERMON AND DEATH (PARINIRVANA), ANCIENT REGION OF GANDHARA, KUSHAN PERIOD
2nd-4th century. Finely carved, the lower register depicts two scenes from the Buddha’s life separated by tall framed pillars. On the right, Buddha is depicted giving his first sermon beneath a canopy, seated in dhyanasana on a pedestal engraved with the dharmachakra, surrounded by disciples. The second frame on the left depicts the death of Buddha, who lies on a raised bed, surrounded by mourners, with the lone figure of Subhadra sitting on the floor in front of the bed with his back turned to the viewer.


Provenance:
From a French private collection.

Condition:
Very good condition, commensurate with age. Extensive wear, losses, signs of weathering and erosion, chips, scratches, encrustations. The frieze is pierced with two holes for mounting.

Weight: 11.2 kg (incl. stand)
Dimensions: Width 39.7 cm

Mounted on a metal stand. (2)

The upper register depicts Buddha seated in dhyanasana with his hands lowered in dhyana mudra, within an arched niche flanked by two kneeling disciples within similar niches, a pillar between each figure.


Narrative panels
were often affixed to the drums of large and small stupas and could thus be read like a storyboard sequentially in the ritual process of circumambulation. Reliefs were also placed in false gables on the front and the mid-section of a stupa. For a structural illustration, see Behrendt, The Art of Gandhara in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 2007, fig. 15, page 33.


According to the Buddhist chronicles
, when Buddha died near the city of Kushinagara, in northern India, he broke free from the cycle of rebirths and attained nirvana, absolute release from karmic rebirth. This panel shows the Buddha surrounded by lay and monastic mourners expressing their grief. These reactions are contrasted with the calm of the monk Subhadra, seated facing Buddha’s corpse, who alone comprehends the true meaning of the Buddha’s death. Images of Buddha’s parinirvana based on this Gandharan prototype became important icons for veneration across the Buddhist world in the following centuries.


Literature comparison:

Compare a related schist frieze depicting
the death of the Buddha
, 41.1 cm wide, dated ca. 3rd century, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 2015.500.4.1. Compare a related frieze of the Buddha giving his first sermon with a similarly styled dharma wheel, 31.1 cm wide, dated ca. 2nd century, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 1980.527.4.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 21 March 2008, lot 533
Price: USD 46,600 or approx.
EUR 60,500
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A large gray schist relief of the Renunciation, Gandhara, 2nd/3rd century
Expert remark: Compare the related manner of carving with similar pillars and archways. Note the size (46.3 cm).


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Bonhams San Francisco, 15 December 2009, lot 8073
Price: USD 19,520 or approx.
EUR 25,500
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A gray schist architectural frieze, Gandhara, 2nd/3rd century
Expert remark: Compare the related manner of carving with similar pose and robes of the Buddha. Note the size (47.2 cm).




貴霜帝國健陀羅灰色片岩佛陀説法及涅槃

二至四世紀。雕刻精美，描繪了佛陀一生的兩個場景，由高大的框架柱子隔開。右側描繪的是佛陀在菩提樹下首次說法，他結跏趺坐，周圍弟子環繞。左邊的第二幅畫面描繪了佛陀涅槃的情景。佛陀躺在一張高高的床上，周圍都是哀悼者，而蘇跋陀羅孤獨的身影坐在床前的地板上，背對著觀眾。


來源：
法國私人收藏。

品相：
狀況極好，大面積磨損、缺損、風化和侵蝕跡象、缺口、劃痕、結殼。有兩個用於安裝的孔。

重量：總11.2 公斤
尺寸：寬39.7 厘米

金屬支架 (2)


上部描繪了佛陀在一個拱形壁龕內打坐
，雙手低垂結禪定印，兩側跪著弟子，每個人物之間有一根柱子。


文獻比較：


比較一件相近的西元三世紀片岩
佛陀涅槃圖
，寬41.1 釐米，收藏於大都會藝術博物館，館藏編號2015.500.4.1。比較一件相近的約二世紀佛陀，用類似風格的法輪首次說法，寬31.1 釐米，收藏於大都會藝術博物館，館藏編號1980.527.4。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2008年3月21日，lot 533
價格：USD 46,600（相當於今日
EUR 60,500
）
描述：健陀羅二至三世紀灰色片岩浮雕
專家評論：比較相近的雕刻風格，具有相似的柱子和拱門。請注意尺寸 (46.3 釐米)。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：舊金山邦瀚斯，2009年12月15日，lot 8073
價格：USD 19,520（相當於今日
EUR 25,500
）
描述：健陀羅二至三世紀灰色片岩浮雕
專家評論：比較相近的雕刻風格，以及佛陀相近的姿勢和長袍。請注意尺寸 (47.2 釐米)。