On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

Sculpture

2nd century-3rd century (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Gandhara (made)

A right-angle bracket with two shallow tenons on the base. The relief depicts an ichthyocentaur or triton. His upper form resembles a centaur while the lower body metamorphoses into an aquatic or serpentine form. He is bearded, winged and has a long dragon-like tail, ram's hoofs on his feet and holds a spear in his right hand.

Object details

Categories
Sculpture
Buddhism
Object type
Sculpture
Materials and techniques
Schist
Brief description
Bracket relief panel depicting a winged Triton, schist, 2nd-3rd century, Gandhara.
Physical description
A right-angle bracket with two shallow tenons on the base. The relief depicts an ichthyocentaur or triton. His upper form resembles a centaur while the lower body metamorphoses into an aquatic or serpentine form. He is bearded, winged and has a long dragon-like tail, ram's hoofs on his feet and holds a spear in his right hand.
Dimensions
  • Height: 20cm
  • Length: 31cm
  • Depth: 6.5cm
Style
Kushan
Gallery label
(06/06/2011)
8. Relief showing a Winged Triton
100–300
Kushan period
In Greek mythology a triton is son of Poseidon, god of the sea. The use of this motif is an example of the liberal borrowings from Greek and Roman art that could be seen in Gandhara. This relief probably belonged to the stone cladding of a brick building. It still has the tenons used to secure it to the wall.
Schist
Gandhara/North-west Pakistan (possibly Takht-i Bahi)
Given by Dr W.L. Hildburgh FSA
Museum no. IS.8-1947
Credit line
Given by Dr W. L. Hildburgh
Historical context
Motifs such as the winged triton holding a spear illustrate the liberal borrowings that the Gandharan school made from the Hellenistic west. A triangular relief showing a similar ichthyocentaur or triton is in the British Museum, OA 1889.10-16.2.

The majority of Gandharan Buddhist buildings were constructed in brick. Stone was largely confined to the decorative reliefs. This relief still exhibits the tenons used to secure it in its original architectural setting.

Production
Possibly Takhi-i-Bahi, Gandhara, Pakistan
Subject depicted
Buddhism
Bibliographic references
  • H. Hargreaves, Handbook to Sculptures in Peshawar Museum, 1930, Pl. 8 (a) E. Esperandieu, Recueil General de bas-reliefs, statues et bustes de la Gaule romaine, Paris 1916, Vol.6, p. 421 for Western parallels. W.Zwalf, The Shrines of Gandhara 1979, pl.28.
  • The Crossroads of Asia : transformation in image and symbol in the art of ancient Afghanistan and Pakistan / edited by Elizabeth Errington and Joe Cribb with Maggie Claringbull. Cambridge: Ancient India and Iran Trust, 1992 Number: 0951839918
Collection
South & South East Asia Collection
Accession number
IS.8-1947

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Record createdFebruary 13, 2000
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O25040/sculpture-unknown/
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