Galerie Golconda

Hollow head of a female, moulded in fine grain, light ivory beige stucco. The high chignon bun of the figure is held up by a crown that is surmounted with a bejewelled tuft. The ears lobes are lengthened as a result of wearing opulent jewels, a common sign of belonging to the aristocracy. The eyes are wide open with a straight nose, well-defined eyebrows and small mouth with hemmed lips. Prominent eyes are a characteristic feature of the regional style.
The statuary technique of stucco was developed in Greco-Roman workshops in Alexandria. It involved the application of a succession of layers with an increasingly thin pressure and slow setting, a skill which required real expertise. This head derives from a low relief sculpture that once leaned against a temple wall. It must have been at a three-quarter angle as the face is asymmetrical. Excellent state of preservation. Some missing fragments, a sign of erosion. Presence of patina from excavation. Gandhãra corresponds to present-day Pakistan and southern Afghanistan. By extending his territory to the Indus valley, Alexander the Great left a technical and stylistic tradition of Greek art in the service of Buddhist spirituality. This highly recognizable regional style reached its peak during the reign of the Kushans.