Items Similar to A Finely Carved Gandhara Head of ‘Atlas’
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 11
A Finely Carved Gandhara Head of ‘Atlas’
About the Item
A Finely Carved Gandhara Head of ‘Atlas’
Grey schist
India
3rd - 4th Centuries AD
SIZE: 19cm high, 11cm wide, 12.5cm deep - 7½ ins high, 4¼ ins wide, 5 ins deep
References
Pratapaditya, Pal; ‘Asian Art at the Norton Simon Museum’, Vol. l; Art from the Indian Subcontinent, 2003, pp.68 - 69, no. 35, where Pal illustrates and discusses a Gandharan ‘Winged Figure’ with similar eyes. According to Pal, 2003, p.68, Alfred Foucher was the first to suggest that the muscular figures are ‘yakshas’ in the guise of classical ‘Atlantes’, having borrowed the wings from Victory. (Alfred Foucher, ‘L’art greco-bouddhique du Gandhara’, 1905 - 1951, vol. 1, p. 208.
The finely carved dark grey polished head of a male complete with a refined moustache. Probably portrays ‘Atlantes’ who is often seen in Gandharan sculpture, and loosely based on the Greek god ‘Atlas.
Gazing directly forward, his face is modelled with a serene expression in a stylised ‘Helenistic’ style. His hair is grouped into large curls that cover part of his forehead as well as flowing above and behind his ears. Remains of his turban can still be seen with its individual twisting bands of cloth. His protruding eyes are unusually large, sheltered beneath a heavy lidded brow. The strength and ‘trance-like’ quality of his eyes engage the viewer instantly, the emotive intensity drawn closer through the detailing of the pupils.
According to Pratapaditya Pal, though ‘Atlantes’ figures are often loosely identified as ‘Atlas’, they should be distinguished from the individual in classical mythology who was ‘ordered to support the heavens’ on his shoulders.
Provenance:
Ex Simon Ray Indian and Islamic Works of Art, London 2007
Ex Private collection
- Dimensions:Height: 7.5 in (19.05 cm)Width: 4.25 in (10.8 cm)Depth: 5 in (12.7 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:Schist
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:3rd - 4th Centuries AD
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU9363239427522
About the Seller
No Reviews Yet
Vetted Seller
These experienced sellers undergo a comprehensive evaluation by our team of in-house experts.
Established in 1989
1stDibs seller since 2023
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: London, United Kingdom
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
More From This SellerView All
- A Rare and Finely Detailed Greek Bronze Statuette of an Actor with Large PhallusLocated in London, GBA Rare and Finely Detailed Greek Bronze Statuette of an Actor with Large Phallus Bronze Greek First half of 4th Century BC Size: 10.5cm high - 4¼ ins high Provenance: Ex Privat...Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Greek Antiquities
MaterialsBronze
- Very Rare and Early Carved Vessel in the Form of a HedgehogLocated in London, GBA Very Rare and Early Carved Vessel in the Form of a Hedgehog Alabaster Near Eastern 3rd Millenium BC SIZE: 9.5cm high, 9.5cm wide, 15.5cm deep - 3¾ ins high, 3¾ ins wide, 6 ins ...Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Antiquities
MaterialsAlabaster
- A Hellenistic Funerary Stele in High Relief with Two Male HeadsLocated in London, GBA Hellenistic Funerary Stele in High Relief with Two Male Heads Marble Greek Hellenistic Circa 2nd Century BC Size: 20.5cm high, 38cm wide, 11cm deep - 8 ins high, 15 ins wide, 4...Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Greek Antiquities
MaterialsMarble
- A Rare and Finely Carved Weser Renaissance Stone HeadLocated in London, GBA Rare and Finely Carved Weser Renaissance Stone Head Stone Germany 16th Century Size: 23cm high, 21cm wide, 21cm deep - 9 ins high, 8¼ ins wide, 8¼ ins deep / 33cm high ...Category
Antique 16th Century German Architectural Elements
MaterialsStone
- An Anatolian Marble ‘Star Gazer’ FigureLocated in London, GBAn Anatolian Marble ‘Star Gazer’ Figure Marble Anatolian Early Bronze Age / Circa 2700 - 2100 BC Size: 5cm high, 3cm wide - 2 ins high, 1¼ ins high The highly stylised oval head wi...Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Turkish Antiquities
MaterialsMarble
- An Openwork Copper Alloy Garment PinLocated in London, GBAn Openwork Copper Alloy Garment Pin Superb colour and patina Bronze Eastern Iran or Central Asia 2000 BC SIZE: 35cm wide - 13¾ ins wide A similar pin in the Louvre-France, was exh...Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Persian Antiquities
MaterialsCopper
You May Also Like
- Olokun Head, Kingdom of Ife, Western Nigeria Hand Carved HardwoodLocated in Rothley, LeicestershireFascinating detailed Olokun head from the Kingdom of Ife in Western Nigeria. Hand carved hardwood face with almond shaped eyes, neck creases and astounding facial incisions Circa 1...Category
Late 20th Century Beninese Folk Art Antiquities
MaterialsHardwood
- Late 17th century hand-carved wooden headLocated in Oostende, BELate 17th - early 18th century hand-carved wooden head from Southern Europe. Made from poplar wood. Wear consistent with age and use.Category
Antique Late 17th Century Italian Antiquities
MaterialsPoplar
- 15th Century French Carved Limestone Head FragmentLocated in Chicago, ILAn incredible and rare 15th century French carved limestone fragment depicting the back of a man's head with a wavy hair texture, and mounted on a c...Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier French Renaissance Mounted Objects
MaterialsMarble
- South Arabian Head of a WomanLocated in London, GBA female head finely carved from evenly-coloured cream alabaster. The face features a strong chin, high rounded cheekbones, and large elliptical eyes deeply inset for inlays. The remains of the nose indicate that it was long, thin, and roughly triangular in form. A small, round mouth sits just below the nose. Deeply incised eyebrows follow the shape of the eyes, which are framed by unusual grooved canthi on either side, possibly to represent cosmetic eye paint. The supraorbital margins above the eyes are deeply carved, while the carving below the eyes is more subtle, smoothing the sockets into the rounded cheeks. The ears are formed from two arcs and a central sphere, and both lobes are pierced for earrings. The long hair frames the face below the ears, and is carved to create a rougher texture. There is a stock sticker on the back of the neck. A fragment of the right shoulder remains. This suggests that the head was part of a larger sculpture, possibly a full figure (though this seems unlikely due to its relatively large scale) or, more likely, a bust. This head is stylistically aligned with those found at Timna, the capital of the ancient Yemeni kingdom of Qataban, which existed from the 1st millennium BC until the late 1st or 2nd centuries AD. Timna served as an important hub of the Incense Route, the camel caravan that transported incense from Arabia and India to ports on the Mediterranean Sea. Roman author and philosopher Pliny the Elder (23/24-79 AD) described Timna as a busy city with around 65 temples. Excavations in 1950 and 1951 by Wendell Phillips...Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier European Antiquities
MaterialsAlabaster
- A Roman bronze head attachment of a youthLocated in UTRECHT, UTA finely detailed appliqué with the face of a youth, wavy hair framing the circular face, with well defined eyes, pierced for inlays. 5.5 cm (h) Provenance: Ex Jean-Phillipe Mari...Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Italian Classical Roman Antiquities
MaterialsBronze
- Early 19th Century Carved Italian Santos Religious Macabre Wooden HeadLocated in London, GBEarly 19th century carved Santos head We are proud to offer a wonderfully aged example of an early 19th century hand carved Italian Santos Head. Formed from hand carved section wood, hand painted with some still present and a wonderful curio / macabre look with hollow space in its eyes. This highly collectable religious example has a wonderfully spooky look as is obvious from the photos provided. A real gem of a decorative item and real antique religious artefact...Category
Antique 1820s Italian Religious Items
MaterialsWood
