Antique Gandhara Grey Schist Buddha Head Fragment Bust, Kushan-Era Style Stone Sculpture Study Piece, 38cm

Gandhara Buddha Head Fragment Bust in Grey Schist

This is a Gandhara Buddha head fragment carved in grey schist, a compact yet museum-grade study in calm authority. Even separated from its original body, the sculpture retains the full Gandhara language: disciplined symmetry, softened naturalism, and a meditative quiet that reads instantly across distance.

The face is composed with restraint. Gently lowered eyelids, a balanced nose, and a closed mouth form the classic “noble calm” associated with Gandhara workshops. The expression does not perform emotion; it stabilizes the viewer. This is spiritual presence rendered as structure.

Hair is carved in rhythmic waves, crowned by a raised topknot form that signals awakened status. The carving treats texture as order: repeated locks create a visual cadence that reinforces stillness rather than ornament. Subtle asymmetries and surface variations belong to the hand and the stone, giving the piece an archaeological honesty rather than a factory perfection.

As a fragment, the work invites connoisseurship. Head fragments are collected not only as devotional remnants but as teaching objects: they allow close study of proportion, modeling, and workshop vocabulary without distraction. In a vitrine, library, or minimalist interior, a head fragment often carries more concentrated authority than a complete figure.

Gandhara art formed along the Silk Road cultural sphere, associated primarily with present-day Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan. In a Japan-based collection, this head fragment functions as a root-image, clarifying how early Buddhist form-language emerged before later regional stylizations took hold.

Condition is consistent with antique stone sculpture. Surface wear, softened edges, and minor losses reflect age and historical handling rather than modern damage. No modern restoration is assumed without in-hand examination. The object should be understood as an authentic survivor valued for material truth and coherent form-language.

Key Facts

• Object type: Stone Buddhist sculpture fragment (Buddha head)
• Material: Grey schist (Gandhara stone)
• Dimensions: Height 38 cm (estimated Width ~22 cm, Depth ~20 cm)
• Period: Gandhara / Kushan-era style (antique; 100+ years; see Confidence & Verification Notes)
• Customs: HS Code: 9706.00 | Country of Origin: Pakistan (Gandhara region, ancient)

Collector Relevance

A museum-grade connoisseur object that concentrates Gandhara “noble calm” into its most legible form. Ideal for collectors who value study pieces, fragments, and early Buddhist form-language.

Collector’s Resonance

For the collector who prefers clarity over spectacle. A head fragment invites proximity, slow looking, and a deeper relationship with sculptural language.

Who Is This Deity?

• Buddha (head fragment): A fragment from a once-complete Buddha image; collected for workshop vocabulary, proportion, and devotional history.
• Gandhara tradition: A Buddhist art tradition shaped along the Silk Road, known for calm naturalism, disciplined symmetry, and distinctive hair treatment.

Explore the Library

• Buddhist Statues & Sacred Art (Pillar)
• Buddha Guide (Subpillar)
• Gandhara Buddhist Art (Subpillar)

Shipping & Logistics

• Customs: HS Code: 9706.00 | Country of Origin: Pakistan (Gandhara region, ancient)
• Estimated item weight: ~10 kg (stone head fragment)
• Safe packaged weight estimate: ~15 kg (double-box + foam bracing + edge guards)
• Estimated packed size: ~50 × 35 × 30 cm (protective clearance included)

Confidence & Verification Notes

Workshop attribution, exact dating, and stone identification should be treated as probable without in-hand examination and comparative references. This object is best cataloged as a Gandhara Buddha head fragment in grey schist within a Kushan-era style horizon.

Explore the Collection

To browse related sacred works and Buddhist articles curated under the same standards, explore our Buddhist Statues & Sacred Art collection.

Authenticity & Stewardship

Evaluated under the Japonista Authentication Framework™:

• Material, carving, and surface-study comparison
• Iconographic and stylistic verification
• Condition and stability review (surface integrity)
• Construction assessment and handling-risk evaluation

Guaranteed 100% Authentic. Covered by the Japonista Lifetime Authenticity Warranty™.

A Note on Stewardship and Collecting

At Japonista, we approach Buddhist statues, sacred images, and ritual objects not merely as collectibles, but as cultural and spiritual artifacts deserving of respect, understanding, and careful presentation. Every piece we offer is thoughtfully examined, researched, and curated with sensitivity to its origin, meaning, and historical role.

Our role is not only to offer access to rare and meaningful objects, but to serve as responsible custodians—connecting the right works with collectors who value depth, intention, and authenticity.

Inquiries, Availability, and Private Consideration

Some sacred works may allow room for discussion, while others are held firmly due to rarity, condition, or cultural importance. All inquiries are reviewed personally and discreetly, and we welcome thoughtful questions or expressions of interest.

If you are exploring a particular theme, deity, lineage, or period—or seeking guidance in building a focused collection—our concierge team is always available to assist with quiet expertise and care.

Concierge Support & Collector Guidance

Japonista Concierge™ provides personalized assistance for collectors seeking deeper understanding, thoughtful acquisition, or long-term curation strategies. Whether your interest is devotional, scholarly, or aesthetic, we are here to help guide your journey with clarity and respect.

For select high-value or historically significant works, private reservation or structured payment arrangements may be available on a case-by-case basis. Please reach out to discuss eligibility and discreet options.

Collector support: If you’re building a cross-Asia Buddhism timeline, we can recommend complementary pieces and reading paths inside the library pages above.

Before Proceeding

We kindly encourage collectors to review our shop policies and house guidelines, available through the links in our website footer, which outline shipping, handling, and conditions specific to vintage, sacred, and collectible works.

A Closing Note

Thank you for exploring Japonista’s collection of Buddhist statues, sacred art, and spiritual artifacts. We are honored to share these meaningful works and to help place them where they may continue to be appreciated, studied, and respected.

If you have questions or wish to explore related works, please feel free to contact Japonista Concierge™ at any time.

Curatorial note: Fragmentary works are valued for authenticity and study. Minor surface variation and edge softness are consistent with age and material.