Bodhisattva de pie de esquisto gris de Gandhara, tipo Maitreya, gesto abhaya, base en relieve, era Kushán, 107 cm

Standing 107 cm in grey schist, this Gandhara Bodhisattva is monumental presence in its most direct form: weight placed with certainty, body modeled with classical restraint, drapery carved to behave like architecture. A raised hand of reassurance and a small vessel, the probable sign of Maitreya, make it legible from across a room.

The Piece

The figure relies on no theatrical motion. It stands as an engineered calm, and the face carries the Gandhara signature: lowered eyelids, disciplined features and a moustache that adds worldly gravity without tipping into portraiture. It reads as a being who has lived within the world and chosen clarity, human enough to be trusted and authoritative enough to anchor a room.

The right hand is raised in an open-palm gesture of reassurance, the abhaya or fear-not gesture: protective rather than aggressive, calm strength expressed as posture. The left hand holds a small vessel form, an attribute commonly associated with Maitreya-type Bodhisattva images in Gandhara traditions. Together the gestures present a guardian-guide: calm first, power second.

The torso is modeled with confident mass, and the ornament, necklaces and bands acknowledging the Bodhisattva's compassionate engagement with the world, reads as courtly but not indulgent. Robe folds descend in rhythmic arcs and layered bands, a cadence both classical and meditative in which drapery becomes structure that teaches steadiness. At the base a relief carving introduces a second register, figures arranged in a narrative band that works like a condensed teaching frieze: the Bodhisattva stands not as an isolated icon but supported by community, vow and story.

Gandhara art belongs to the wider Silk Road formation, associated primarily with regions of present-day Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan, a tradition known for naturalistic anatomy, deep drapery folds and a distinctive noble calm. Within a Japan-based Buddhist collection the sculpture opens the frame to Buddhism before national styles, a root image of the early dialect of form that later traveled and was localized across Asia. Figures at this scale are rare in collector circulation, and the gesture-and-attribute combination reads across cultures.

Details

• Subject: Standing Bodhisattva, Maitreya-type attribution probable; abhaya gesture; vessel attribute; narrative relief base
• Era: Kushan-era / Gandhara horizon (commonly 2nd–3rd century)
• Origin: Pakistan (Gandhara region, ancient)
• Material: Grey schist
• Measurements: Height 107 cm; Width 36 cm; Depth 20 cm
• Weight: Approx. 45 kg (stone); safe packaged weight approx. 60 kg
• Customs: HS Code 9706.00
• Shipping: Cargo or freight only; exceeds standard parcel services (EMS, DHL, FedEx, UPS). Crate or double-box with foam bracing and edge guards, packed size approx. 120 × 50 × 40 cm; delivery typically 6 to 10 weeks; freight quoted per destination

Condition

• Condition consistent with ancient stone medium and age.
• The frontal carving retains a strong silhouette and modeling.
• Surface variations, edge softness and weathering are part of the object's long biography rather than modern damage.

Attribution Notes

Gandhara dating and deity identification vary by workshop and scholarly convention. Exact naming should be treated as probable without in-hand examination, comparative references and material study; for complete certainty on workshop, dating and attribute identification, in-hand examination and comparative study are recommended.

Display Guidance

Museum-grade objects benefit from thoughtful placement, stable climate and professional handling on arrival.

Authenticity & Care

Best cataloged as a standing Bodhisattva in grey schist within the Kushan-era horizon; the vessel attribute supports a Maitreya-type reading, to be treated as probable. A clean object summary suitable for registrars is available for institutional documentation. Every piece is examined and documented in Japan before dispatch and is offered with the Japonista authenticity guarantee.

Delivery from Japan

Crated in Japan and shipped insured by air or sea freight. A freight quote is confirmed with you before dispatch through our Museum-Grade Logistics Suite™. Import duties and taxes, where applicable, are payable on arrival. Returns follow our published policy.

Collectors also search: gandhara standing bodhisattva · maitreya bodhisattva gandhara · kushan era schist statue · grey schist gandhara sculpture · abhaya mudra stone statue · ancient buddhist stone figure · gandhara relief base statue