A GRAY SCHIST FRIEZE DEPICTING BUDDHA’S PARINIRVANA, ANCIENT REGION OF GANDHARA, KUSHAN PERIOD
2nd-4th century. Finely carved with the dying Buddha lying on his right side on a raised bed, resting his head on a round cushion, surrounded by his mourning disciples. Behind him, three mourners raise their hands above their heads in lament with distraught facial expressions. Haloed mourners standing on each side rest their hands on the bed, flanked by tall columns. Below the bed sit three mourners, two facing out while the third, the monk Subhadra, is reassured in his knowledge of Buddha’s achievement of nirvana.


Provenance:
From a private collection in Germany.

Condition:
Good condition, commensurate with age. Old wear, signs of weathering and erosion, losses, nicks, scratches, soil encrustations.

Weight: 15.1 kg
Dimensions: Length 48.2 cm

Mounted on a metal stand. (2)


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 raising his hands, who alone comprehends the true meaning of the Buddha’s death. Images of Buddha’s Parinirvana from Gandhara 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 (Parinirvana), 41.1 cm wide, dated 2nd-3rd century BC, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 67.43.13.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 23 September 2020, lot 627
Price: USD 35,000 or approx.
EUR 37,500
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A green schist relief depicting the Parinirvana, ancient region of Gandhara, probably Swat Valley, 2nd-4th century.
Expert remark: Compare the related stone, subject, and manner of carving. Note the smaller size (34 cm).


Auction result comparison:

Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 22 March 2011, lot 239
Price: USD 40,000 or approx.
EUR 50,500
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A gray schist stupa base with scenes from Buddha’s life, Gandhara, 2nd/3rd century
Expert remark: Compare the related stone, subject, and manner of carving. Note the size (34.3 cm) and that this is a stupa base carved with further scenes from Buddha’s life.




健陀羅灰色片岩佛陀涅槃像

貴霜帝國，二至四世紀。這件作品中畫面正中為右脅在下獅子臥的釋迦，右手枕在鋪著床上，雙足交疊。釋迦左側床頭站立一人，曲發、鬍髭，著希臘式服裝，神情悲切，手中可能拿著金剛杵，應是執金剛。釋迦床前坐三名弟子，左起第一位掩面而泣，神情悲慟。中間一人垂頭而坐。釋迦腳下所坐僧人可能是禮拜佛足的摩訶迦葉。釋迦身後站有四名世俗人物，格外悲傷，應是拘尸那揭羅的王公貴族。整件作品線條細膩，眾人各異的神情生動地表現了佛陀涅槃時的悲痛氛圍，是一件典型的犍陀羅風格的佛陀涅槃作品。


來源：
德國私人收藏。

品相：
狀態良好，有磨損、風化和侵蝕跡象、損失、刻痕、劃痕、土壤結殼。

重量：15.1 公斤
尺寸：長 48.2 厘米

金屬底座固定 (2)


文獻比較:

比較一件相近的二至三世紀灰色片岩佛陀涅槃像，寬41.1 厘米，收藏於大都會藝術博物館，館藏編號67.43.13。


拍賣比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2020年9月23日，lot 627
價格：USD 35,000（相當今日
EUR 37,500
）
描述：二至四世紀健陀羅綠色片岩斯瓦特谷佛陀涅槃像
專家註釋：比較相近的岩石、主題和雕刻風格。請注意尺寸較小 (34 厘米)。


拍賣比較：

形制：非常相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2011年3月22日，lot 239
價格：USD 40,000（相當今日
EUR 50,500
）
描述：二至三世紀健陀羅灰色片岩佛陀人生像
專家註釋：比較相近的岩石、主題和雕刻風格。請注意 尺寸 (34.3 厘米) ，這是一座佛塔底座，上面描述佛陀的一生。