A Stupa with Relics and Casket, Rock Crystal, Gold, Pearls, and Schist, Ancient Region of Gandhara, Kushan Period, 1st/2nd Century, Probably North-West Pakistan or Afghanistan

Auction Closed

September 20, 05:33 PM GMT

Estimate

15,000 - 20,000 USD

Lot Details

Description

Private Asian Collection

A Stupa with Relics and Casket, Rock Crystal, Gold, Pearls, and Schist

Ancient Region of Gandhara, Kushan Period, 1st/2nd Century, Probably North-West Pakistan or Afghanistan

Height of taller 7¼ in. (18.4 cm)

The rock crystal stupa in three parts, surmounted by a golden chattra or parasol with tiny pearls suspended along the rim, a separate golden strip punched with Kharoshthi characters reading “Vakhanasa datakhasa”, or "Of Vakhana the Donor", a golden rosette with a granulated surface and a small golden disc-shaped relic container. The ovoid stone casket with lid, the knop decorated with a recessed floral motif, a chevron pattern incised around the neck, traces of gilding adhering to the surface.

Sotheby's New York, 24th March 2004, lot 11.

Sotheby's New York, 19th March 2008, lot 267.

According to the traditions of several sects including the Sarvastivadins and Mulasarvastivadins, before his death the Buddhas stated that there was no difference between relics and himself. Such teaching resulted in the reliquary cult of the stupa. Relics that were enshrined in stupas tended to take three forms: those believed to be the corporeal remains of the Buddha himself or their enlightened beings; objects associated with the life of the Buddha, such as his alms bowl, staff and robe; and finally the funerary remains of eminent members of the Buddhist community. Complete reliquary groups cannot be identified with certainty because these groups were frequently split and reassigned to new locations by followers to increase the potency of a newly built stupa.

Zwalf mentions that the range of material considered suitable for deposition was considerable, but a relic chamber typically might contain a miniature stone stupa or metal casket which contained further relics including gold, fragments of bones, semiprecious stones, pearls and smaller caskets. The Kharoshthi characters on the golden strip that is placed centrally within the rock crystal stupa indicate the name of the donor of the reliquary. The script, which belongs to the style of the first century, helps to date the stupa.

For a similar sized rock crystal stupa, see Isao Kurita, Gandharan Art II, the World of the Buddha, Japan, 2003, p. 264, pl. 796. For a similar schist casket see W. Zwalf, A Catalogue of Gandharan Sculpture in the British Museum, London, 199, p 339, pl. 644.