Seated in dhyanasana on a lotus base, the present bodhisattva is dressed in a flowing sanghati, open at the chest, with drapery folds cascading over his lap, where his hands rest in the meditation gesture. Three lavish necklaces adorn his exposed torso. Serenely smiling, his face is characterised by heavy-lidded eyes, a raised urna (now lost) and a moustache, typical of Gandharan bodhisattva representations. His hair is styled in an updo and is surrounded by an elaborate headdress with a central rosette.
A paragon of the Gandharan Buddhist sculptural tradition, the present work emphasises on naturalism and classical ideals of physiognomy. The skilful rendering of the drapery folds follows the Hellenised style of the period. The jewellery, however, is characteristically South Asian, with surviving examples such as a precious-stone-inlaid gold amulet box at the British Museum (acc. no. 1880.29), which can be threaded onto a necklace.
A similar-sized green schist bodhisattva was sold at Christie’s New York on 23 September 2020, lot 623, for $25,000. While presented in a different stance, with the bodhisattva is standing in a dynamic pose, this piece displays the artistic variation found within Gandharan Buddhist sculptures.