Artist: unknown
Title: Bodhisattva Maitreya, standing
Material: grey schist
Site: unknown, Gandhara region, Pakistan
Current Location: National Museu of Pakistan (Karachi Museum), Pakistan
Period/Date: Kushana period (ca. 200 C.E.)
Iconography/Iconology: As a Brahmin prince, the bodhisattva Maitreya is always portrayed as a luxuriously bejeweled princely figure. He wears his hair in a top-knot known as jatamakuta, which is the mark of an Indian ascetic. Thus, iconographically he both prince and wandering mendicant. In this particular portrayal, he also wears an open "hair-net," made of pearls and jewels, which holds the top-knot and hair in place.
Stylistic Comments: The realistic figurative and facial conventions of the Gandharan idiom provide a great deal of information regarding the dress, jewelry and hairstyles of the princely class in ancient India. Actual examples of similar jewelry have been found and thus it is certain that the sculptural representations are very accurate.
