Beschreibung:

GANDHARAN SEATED MAITREYA 2nd-3rd century AD A schist figure of the bodhisattva Maitreya seated in the European style on a throne with legs crossed at the ankles; large halo to the back of the head, turban with beaded decoration and fan-shaped element to the top; long curly hair falling to the shoulders, large pendant earrings to both ears; strings of necklaces falling across the chest, hands held in the teaching mudra; sash across left shoulder falling across the waist, close fitting loin cloth falling to the ankles; base decorated with three rosettes; mounted on a custom-made stand. 40.1 kg total, 85cm including stand (33 1/2"). Condition Fine condition. Condition report [Click to show] This information is available to our registered clients. Please Log In to view. Provenance UK art market, acquired prior to 2000. Footnotes Maitreya is regarded as a future Buddha of this world in Buddhist eschatology. In some Buddhist literature, such as the Amitabha Sutra and the Lotus Sutra, he is referred to as Ajita. According to Buddhist tradition, Maitreya is a bodhisattva who will appear on Earth in the future, achieve complete enlightenment, and teach the pure dharma. According to scriptures, Maitreya will be a successor to the present Buddha, Gautama Buddha. The prophecy of the arrival of Maitreya refers to a time in the future when the dharma will have been forgotten by most on the terrestrial world. The name Maitreya is derived from the Sanskrit word maitri "loving-kindness", which is in turn derived from the noun mitra "friend". In the Greco-Buddhist art of Gandhara, in the first centuries in northern India, Maitreya was the most popular figure to be represented along with Gautama Buddha.