The Buddha: figure
- Gallery: Room 33
- Culture: Kushan
- Made in: Gandhara (historic - Pakistan)
- Date: 2ndC-3rdC (c. AD 160)
- Object type: figure
- Materials: schist
- Museum number: 1947,0511.1
- Museum: The British Museum
- Collection record: British Museum website
- Image © The Trustees of the British Museum, shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.
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About this object
Before you is a striking carved figure of "The Buddha," crafted in schist and dating back to the second to third century AD. Originating from the ancient region of Gandhara—now in modern-day Pakistan—this piece reflects the artistry of the Kushan culture.
The Buddha stands in a pose known as 'abhaya mudra,' his right arm raised with palm open. His head is carefully modeled with wavy hair, a central ushnisha, and an urna, a mark of spiritual insight between the brows. The folds of his robes fall in natural, carved patterns, especially noticeable on his shoulders where a heavy drapery effect is preserved.
Beneath the Buddha’s base, a Bodhisattva sits in meditation surrounded by monks and a donor couple, each figure delicately carved with intricate detailing. The overall composition reveals the strong Gandhara influence, where Greek and Indian artistic styles merged. This figure not only showcases spiritual imagery but also the skillful carving of schist stone.
See it in person
The Buddha: figure is on display in Room 33 at the British Museum on Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London — free to enter. Choose British Museum on audioguide.london and take a photo of it to hear this free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
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