41. 41W TÊTE DE BOUDDHA EN SCHISTE GRIS ANCIENNE RÉGION DU GANDHARA, IIIE/IVE SIÈCLE 24 cm (9 1/2 in.) high A GREY SCHIST HEAD OF BUDDHA ANCIENT REGION OF GANDHARA, 3RD/4TH CENTURY 犍陀羅 三/四世紀 片岩佛首 Provenance: With Claude de Marteau, Brussels, by 1970s This classically modeled head of the Buddha borrows from the Greek styles which greatly inspired the early Buddhist art of Gandhara. The large almond shaped eyes, aquiline nose, and wavy hair pulled into a prominent bun on the top of the head are all features of the Hellenistic period (4th to 1st centuries BCE), as illustrated on another schist head of the Buddha sold at Bonhams, London, 13 May, 2010, lot 173. Also compare the treatment of the curling columns that form the ushnisha with two sculptures in the British Museum, London (Zwalf, Gandharan Sculpture, 1996, p. 33, nos. 40 & 41.