Amazing Khmer Stone Statue of Shiva

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Exceptional Antiquities, Asian, Ethnographic

By Artemis Gallery

Jun 4, 2020

Set Reminder 2020-06-04 10:00:00 2020-06-04 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Exceptional Antiquities, Asian, Ethnographic https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-antiquities-asian-ethnographic-5185
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• Lot Description
  Southeast Asia, Cambodia, Khmer Empire (Angkor culture), ca. 8th to 12th century CE. One of the finest Khmer sculptures we have seen, a remarkable buff grey sandstone statue of the Hindu god Shiva, sculpted in a crouch, with an exquisitely carved flaming aureole behind his head and body. His feet press together beneath his hanging loincloth, obscured by the carved fabric; his knees bent tightly. His four arms are extended from his youthful body, each grasping a different implement. His face is lifelike and naturalistic, but bears an appropriately stern and godly expression despite its youthfulness. He wears the distinctive conical hat associated with the god throughout art. The remarkable artistry of this piece showcases the beauty of Khmer sculpture. Size: 4" L x 24.5" W x 30" H (10.2 cm x 62.2 cm x 76.2 cm); 35" H (88.9 cm) on included custom stand.
  
  Khmer art moved away from Indian styles in the 7th century CE to encompass its own framework; one example of this seen here is that this statue is carved in the round, rather than as a relief on a stela, which was common with Indian and Javanese Hindu and Buddhist sculptures that previously influenced Cambodian art. From this, we can infer that Khmer sculptors would have desired their artwork to be viewed from all sides, and thus placed in the center of temples rather than against a wall. While this artwork was religious - priests supervised its execution - its realism is unmistakable and some scholars believe that gods and goddesses were portrayed with the features of individual members of the royal court. This sculpture and others like it would have both emphasized the power of the monarchy and given high ranking people joy - after all, who wouldn't want to see themselves sculpted by the finest artisans in stone, compared to a god?
  
  Provenance: private Orange County, California, USA collection, acquired in the 1930s
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
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  #155854

  Condition

  Expertly repaired and restored in a few places - along the aureole, mainly low on one side and along the top - with Shiva's head reattached. All repairs are well done and unobtrusive, especially when viewed from the front. Small chips, nicks, and losses commensurate with age. Surface is weathered with some light pitting, mainly on the back of the aureole where the stone was probably not as highly polished originally.
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