A Gandharan sculpture, smuggled from Peshawar, has been discovered in Australia. An exhibition will be held displaying the Head of Bodhisattva in Pakistan’s High Commission of Australia on August 22, after which the sculpture will be returned to Pakistan.

A recent debate has emerged globally regarding the ownership of historical artefacts. In light of this discourse, the Australian National Gallery began researching the origins of different art pieces, especially those alleged to be from Asia. It was during this research that the Head of the Bodhisattva was found.

The Australian National Gallery had purchased the sculpture from an Indian, New York-based private art collector, Subash Chandra Kapoor, according to Pakistan’s High Commissioner for Australia.

“It was later discovered that Chandra Kapoor had been running an illegal art business,” High Commissioner Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri told Aaj News.

“He was involved in all sorts of illegal activities, including smuggling and excavation of artefacts.”

The sculpture was acquired for a staggering price of $275,000 in 2006.

“Now, its value has risen well over half a million dollars,” the high commissioner said. “It’s a great win for Pakistan.”

The Head of Bodhisattva will be returned to Pakistan after an exhibition held at Pakistan’s High Commission of Australia on August 22.

The Head of Bodhisattva

The sculpture originated from Gandhara, which was a Buddhist region between the first and seventh centuries. The region is now part of modern-day northwestern Pakistan.

According to the high commissioner, the Head of the Bodhisattva dates back to the third or fourth century. Since the sculpture has religious significance for Buddhists, relevant people have been invited to the exhibition on August 22.

“Ambassadors of Buddhist countries and Buddhist monks have been invited to attend the exhibition, along with Australian people,” the high commissioner said. “It will essentially be a handing-over ceremony.”

The sculpture is just one of the many art pieces belonging to the Gandharan art tradition. These artefacts were first discovered in the nineteenth century, during an excavation project by the British. Dishes and coins were also discovered during the procedure.

The materials used for the creation of Gandharan sculptures were green phyllite and grey-blue mica schists in the first two centuries. However, following the third century, stucco was increasingly used to create these sculptures. The Head of Bodhisattva is also created with stucco.

There is an extensive collection of Gandharan art in the Lahore Museum, while around 30,000 rare Gandhara antiques are displayed in the Peshawar Museum.

Subash Chandra Kapoor: A History of Smuggling

The accused is currently under trial for the smuggling of the Gandharan piece in both India and New York. However, this isn’t the first time he has faced charges for his smuggling business.

In 2012, Chandra Kapoor was charged with the theft of 18 idols from the Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple in India. Similarly, in 2015, he was charged with smuggling 28 idols of Hindu deities.

In the same year, New York security officers seized 80% of the idols displayed in his “Art of the Past” gallery.