Rare Buddhist carved stone temple step discovered by Bonhams in a garden

Devon, 16 January 2013


This magnificent work of art featuring a cow and other animals has come to light in the garden of a Devon bungalow.

A rare Buddhist carved stone temple step from the Anuradhapura Period, since it resembles those found in the city of Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka, was found by Bonhams in a garden of a Devon bungalow and will be sold in the Indian and Islamic sale in London on 23 April.

This magnificent work of art featuring a cow and other animals is estimated to attract bids in excess of €36,000. The beautiful 1,000 year old pre-Hindu stone step is one of only six examples known to date from this period, making this discovery the seventh. It features a curved procession of animals including lions, horses, elephants, birds and Brahim cows.

Sam Tuke of Bonhams in Exeter, England, said of the discovery that he had met the client and that she mentioned she had a large slab of carved granite coming form her mothers house, She said she “loved running her fingers around the animals carved into the stone.” Since the 1950’s the stone had been moved six times, the client had always recovered the stone and it was known affectionately in the family as ‘The Pebble’.