Unknown artist, Gandharan

This head was made in Gandhara, a cosmopolitan crossroads that spanned parts of what are now Pakistan, Afghanistan, and northwestern India. The hair and the highly idealized face with large eyes show the strong influence of Classical sculpture, a testament to stylistic and cultural exchanges between Asia and the West along the Silk Road.

In the 19th century, Gandharan art became widely sought after by Western collectors drawn to its resemblance to ancient Greek and Roman works. The records for the Gandharan archaeological digs were poorly kept, and this sculpture’s original location is now unknown, although it was likely part of a life-size figure.