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Ancient Greek Gandharan Schist Stone Atlas Sculpture - 300 AD
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Ancient Greek Gandharan Schist Stone Atlas Sculpture - 300 AD
Price: GB $625.00

Ancient Greek Gandharan Schist Stone Atlas Sculpture - 300 AD
Ex. Guerin-Oenen collection, 1950\'s. sale

An ancientGandharan grey schist carving of a youthful Atlas, dating to the 2nd - 3rd century AD.

The wings extend to the legs and the head is turned to theleft as is typical for reliefs depicting Atlas. The figure has the physique of a wrestler, his broad and powerful chest clearly reflect the strength of the primordial God who held up the celestial sphere.

Gandharan Sculpture was produced in parts of modern day India, Pakistan and Afghanistan from the first century AD. This region had a long standing association with the classical western world as from the third century BCthese areas were ruled by the Graeco-Bactrians, the successors of Alexander the Great\'s farthest flung kingdom. Settlers from the Greek world brought with them a multitude of influences including artistic traditions. Though thefortunes of the Bactrians waned, they left a lasting aesthetic legacy upon the region they had once ruled. This carving was produced at a time when Gandhara\'s urban elite had developed a refined taste for foreign goods, as such Gandharan artists were using figures from classical Greek mythology to form the motifs for their work. This magnificent carving is a beautiful example of the hydridisation of both 2nd century Gandharan art and society.

Condition: Unrestored, with minor fragments and abrasions. In good overall condition with some surviving red pigment.

Width: 6.5 inches.

Height: 6.5 inches.

Provenance:

Ex Collection of Nicol Guerin and the late Dick van Oenen. Guerin and Oenen were Passionate collectors of Asian art, forming a large part of their collection whileresiding in the Far East.

In the 1950\'s Oenen was awarded The Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand, for outstanding services to the Kingdom of Thailand.Oenen was also honored by the Singapore authorities with the Pingat Jasa Gemilang - Meritorious Service Medal.



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