A Gandharan head of a bodhisattva dated around the 3rd Century CE has been returned to Pakistan from Australia. It is speculated that this artefact could possibly have its origins in Taxila.
Abdul Nasir, former curator of Archaeological Museum Taxila, noted that it was a unique stone structure. "I have never seen such a head in my memory. It has the turban on Buddha's head with dragons woven into it... it is very different and unique. It seems very valuable," said Nasir.
The bodhisattva head had been smuggled out of Pakistan by the now disgraced Indian art collector Subhash Chandra Kapoor who then sold it to the National Gallery of Australia in 2006 through his New York based gallery Art of the Past.
Upon discovery of its illegal and and unethical status and association with Kapoor's gallery, the relic was returned to Pakistan via the Pakistani High Commission in Canberra. Zahid Hafiz Chaudhary, Pakistan's High Commissioner to Australia, was the one to receive the relic at the handing over ceremony acknowledging the role of the Provenance Research Project of the National Gallery of Australia.
Abdul Nasir, former curator of Archaeological Museum Taxila, noted that it was a unique stone structure. "I have never seen such a head in my memory. It has the turban on Buddha's head with dragons woven into it... it is very different and unique. It seems very valuable," said Nasir.
The bodhisattva head had been smuggled out of Pakistan by the now disgraced Indian art collector Subhash Chandra Kapoor who then sold it to the National Gallery of Australia in 2006 through his New York based gallery Art of the Past.
Upon discovery of its illegal and and unethical status and association with Kapoor's gallery, the relic was returned to Pakistan via the Pakistani High Commission in Canberra. Zahid Hafiz Chaudhary, Pakistan's High Commissioner to Australia, was the one to receive the relic at the handing over ceremony acknowledging the role of the Provenance Research Project of the National Gallery of Australia.