Sakyamuni Buddha

PAKISTAN; Kushan period

The Buddha stands with his right hand raised probably in the abhaya (fearlessness) mudra while the left hand holds onto the garment. The folds of the robe, like in most Gandharan sculptures, are realistically portrayed and reveal the shape of the body. The way the under robe is subtly revealed is a characteristic that is often seen in Indian and Southeast Asian sculptures.
The Buddha’s wavy hair is brushed back from the forehead and builds to a flat usnisa. The stud that filled the urna is missing. The eyes are deep set and the aquiline nose slightly broken. Only traces of the plain nimbus behind the head remain. The rectangular pedestal on which the Buddha stands is decorated with four-petaled flowers set within a square design.