NOTES
The most impressive feature of this head is the elaborately stylized hair. Deep, arched curls are heavily undercut at the forehead and extend down the back of the neck. Curled tresses also fall over the figure’s right earlobe. A diadem or wreath sculpted as twisted cords may represent victory and royal power. Arched eyebrows converge on the sharp nose, and the partially closed eyes are crisply defined. The slightly smiling, pursed lips and deep depressions on the corners of the mouth also add character to the face.
Traces of red and black pigment indicate that this sculpture was once painted. The head most likely had an additional protuberance at the top, possibly an uṣṇīṣa. This would have identified the figure as a bodhisattva, as can be seen in more complete examples from Gandhāra in this gallery.
