Dimensions: Height 10,5 cm Wide 6 cm Depth 2,5 cm

Weight: 163 grams

This compact and expressive seated Bodhisattva in cast bronze is a striking example of Gandharan devotional art. The figure sits in vajrasana (diamond posture) on a pedestal, with hands resting in dhyana mudra (gesture of meditation). The elaborate treatment of the lotus base, with its distinctively overlapping petal forms, reflects a matured iconographic style consistent with late Gandharan Buddhist art.

The Bodhisattva is adorned with princely ornaments, including a braided headdress surmounted by a topknot, large earrings, and multiple strands of necklaces, signaling his status as a spiritual sovereign. A prominent urna is visible on the forehead. His facial expression, with arched brows and downcast eyes, exudes introspection and compassion, while a faint mustache lends a distinctive anthropomorphic character—occasionally found in Gandharan depictions of Maitreya.

The figure exhibits the stylistic legacy of Hellenistic and Central Asian influences through the modeling of the face, the drapery with heavy linear folds, and the overall proportions.

During the later Gandharan period, bronzes like this were produced in greater numbers to satisfy the devotional needs of lay practitioners and monks. As Buddhist imagery expanded beyond monumental stone to more accessible materials, the intimate scale and portability of such pieces played a significant role in the diffusion of Mahayana Buddhism throughout Central and East Asia.

The figure may represent Maitreya, the future Buddha, given the elaborate ornaments and regal bearing, although the meditative gesture also aligns with Shakyamuni iconography.

The surface bears a fine natural blue-green patina, with areas of encrustation and earthen deposits testifying to prolonged burial. Minor wear and pitting are consistent with age.