Male attendant thumbnail 1
Male attendant thumbnail 2
On display

This object consists of 2 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

Male attendant

Sculpture
4th century-5th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

These two figures once formed part of the high-relief decoration of a Buddhist monument in the Gandharan region of Pakistan. The rapid expansion of Buddhist monasteries demanded quicker and less expensive methods of decoration. Stucco, a plaster largely composed of lime and sand, satisfied this need and was widely used in the later Gandharan period. Section moulds were also frequently employed.

Both these figures display extensive evidence of being richly painted, with traces of yellow, red, and brown iron-oxides still clearly visible. The male figure is dressed in princely attire, with his robes draped in a Hellenistic manner, and with an elaborate diadem or crown worn over long flowing hair. He gestures to his left, perhaps in the direction of central subject of the composition, presumably a figure of the Buddha. The female is similarly clad in a diaphanous robe, though here only her lower body is covered; she is bare breasted and wears arm and wrist ornaments. Her waist-skirt is secured with sash tried in a flamboyant bow to her left; her long hair is secured with an undecorated headband. Curiously, she appears to have two small fangs protruding from her upper jaw, suggesting that she represents some demonic creature, converted by the Buddha's teachings.

These figures probably formed part of a relief decorating a Buddhist monument, reportedly from the Khyber Pass region.

Object details

Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Figure
  • Fragments
TitleMale attendant (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Lime composition with traces of polychrome
Brief description
Male attendant, polychromed stucco, Gandhara, Pakistan, 4th-5th century
Physical description
This standing figure of a princely attendant together with his female companion (I.S.318-1951) once formed part of the high-relief decoration of a Buddhist monument in the Gandharan region of Pakistan.
Both these figures display extensive evidence of being richly painted, with traces of yellow, red, and brown iron-oxides still clearly visible. The male figure is dressed in princely attire, with his robes draped in a Hellenistic manner, and with an elaborate diadem or crown with a central cockadeworn over curling hair which falls to his shoulders. He is bejewelled with a torque round his neck and a heavy linked necklace slung over his left shoulder and hanging below his chest, together with an armlet and wrist bangle on his remaining right arm. He gestures to his left, although the arm below his shoulder has broken off perhaps in the direction of central subject of the composition, presumably a figure of the Buddha.
These figures probably formed part of a relief decorating a Buddhist monument, reportedly from the Kyber Pass region.

Dimensions
  • Height: 37cm
  • Width: 21.5cm
Gallery label
(06/06/2011)
1. Buddhist Attendant Figures
300–500
These two figures once formed part of the decoration of a Buddhist monument. The male wears a diadem. The female has fangs, suggesting that she represents a demon converted by the Buddha’s teachings. Stucco, a composition with lime and sand, was often used in the later Gandharan period. The two figures were richly painted.
Lime composition with traces of paint
Gandhara/North-west Pakistan (Khyber Pass region)
Museum nos. IS.318, 319-1951
Object history
Purchased from Capt. John Hay in 1951. Stucco, a plaster largely composed of lime and sand, satisfied this need and was widely used in the later Gandharan period. Section moulds were also frequently employed.
Historical context
Stucco, a plaster largely composed of lime and sand, was widely used in the later Gandharan period. Section moulds were frequently employed. The rapid expansion of Buddhist monasteries demanded quicker and less expensive methods of decoration. Stucco satisfied this need. These two figures show evidence of being richly painted, with traces of yellow, red, and brown iron-oxides still visible. The male figure is dressed in princely attire; the female is clad in a diaphanous robe and has fangs protruding from her upper jaw, suggesting that she represents some demonic force. These figures probably formed part of a relief decorating a Buddhist monument.
Production
Khyber region, Gandhara, Pakistan
Subject depicted
Summary
These two figures once formed part of the high-relief decoration of a Buddhist monument in the Gandharan region of Pakistan. The rapid expansion of Buddhist monasteries demanded quicker and less expensive methods of decoration. Stucco, a plaster largely composed of lime and sand, satisfied this need and was widely used in the later Gandharan period. Section moulds were also frequently employed.

Both these figures display extensive evidence of being richly painted, with traces of yellow, red, and brown iron-oxides still clearly visible. The male figure is dressed in princely attire, with his robes draped in a Hellenistic manner, and with an elaborate diadem or crown worn over long flowing hair. He gestures to his left, perhaps in the direction of central subject of the composition, presumably a figure of the Buddha. The female is similarly clad in a diaphanous robe, though here only her lower body is covered; she is bare breasted and wears arm and wrist ornaments. Her waist-skirt is secured with sash tried in a flamboyant bow to her left; her long hair is secured with an undecorated headband. Curiously, she appears to have two small fangs protruding from her upper jaw, suggesting that she represents some demonic creature, converted by the Buddha's teachings.

These figures probably formed part of a relief decorating a Buddhist monument, reportedly from the Khyber Pass region.
Bibliographic reference
L'escultura en el temples indis : l'art de la devoció : exposició organitzada per la Fundació "La Caixa" i el Victoria & Albert Museum, Londres. [Barcelona: Obra social, Fundació "la Caixa", c2007 Number: 9788476649466 p.131, Cat.86
Collection
Accession number
IS.319:1, 2-1951

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Record createdFebruary 13, 2000
Record URL
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