Bust of a Bodhisattva, possibly Maitreya. Culture: Pakistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. Dimensions: H. 9 3/8 in. (23.8 cm); W. 7 1/16 in. (18 cm); D. 4 3/4 in. (12 cm)H. (with base) 13 in. (33 cm). Date: 2nd-3rd century.This handsome bust of a Bodhisattva, datable to the 2nd century AD, was produced as part of the architectural decoration of a major monastery in ancient Gandhara (present-day Peshawar district in northwestern Pakistan). The back of the piece is unfinished--originally it would have been attached to a niche or wall--a feature consistent with the vast majority of Gandharan figural sculptures; very few of which are fully in-the-round.This bodhisattva's superbly rendered head is adorned with a slender moustache, an auspicious forehead mark (urna) and an Apollo-like hairstyle and topknot with jewel and pearl net ornamentation. The net of pearls with gemstones at the intersections culminates in a gemstone which secures the pearls looping over the topknot. The distinctive