A RARE AND IMPORTANT SANDSTONE FIGURE OF VISHNU, BAPHUON STYLE, ANGKOR PERIOD, 11TH CENTURY

拍品描述

A RARE AND IMPORTANT SANDSTONE FIGURE OF VISHNU, BAPHUON STYLE, ANGKOR PERIOD, 11TH CENTURY This lot is from a single owner collection and is therefore offered without reserve Khmer Empire, Cambodia. Dexterously carved, depicted standing in samabhanga on a rectangular pedestal, resting his primary left hand upon a faceted mace, while the remaining hands hold his distinctive attributes. The four-armed deity clad in a short, pleated sampot, tied at the front below the navel, its folds fanning across the left thigh and secured at the waist. The face, serene in expression, sensitively modeled with almond-shaped eyes beneath gently arched brows, a broad nose, and full lips forming a subtle smile, all flanked by long, pendulous earlobes. The hair arranged in an elaborate conical chignon, secured by a foliate tiara. Important Note: For essential information on the Jorgen Ruben Gallery Ledger and provenance documentation please visit here: www.zacke.at/rubencollection_ledger Dimensions: Height 77.5 cm (excl. stand), 96.2 cm (incl. stand) With an associated wood stand. (2) The Baphuon period is widely regarded as the pinnacle in the depiction of both male and female forms in Khmer art. Building on developments of the previous half-century, artists of this period introduced a range of stylistic refinements that enabled the deities of this era to appear strikingly idealized: male figures are rendered as strong and well-proportioned, while female figures are imbued with sensuality and grace. This exceptional image of Vishnu exemplifies such qualities, presenting an elegant and highly naturalistic interpretation of the deity in idealized human form, consistent with his role as Preserver of the Universe. In the present example, the grace and delicacy with which the figure is conceived and executed are particularly notable. The slightly bent knees introduce a subtle sense of movement into what is otherwise a static posture. The elaborately carved sampot contrasts with the smoothness of the body, draped around the hips of the male deity and forming a gentle V-shape below the navel, with refined, flowing folds beneath the belt. The double anchor-shaped textile element between the legs, well attested in earlier periods, disappears in this phase, as seen here, though it reappears in the subsequent Angkor Wat style. Expert’s note: Although this figure is portrayed with Shiva’s third eye (tri-locana), it represents the Hindu god Vishnu, identified by the conch shell in the upper-left hand. It was not uncommon for Khmer images of deities to be altered during periods of religious change or at the beginning of a new regnal cycle. Such interventions allowed rulers to distinguish their religious and political identities from those of their predecessors. For another example of Vishnu portrayed with Shiva’s third eye, see a closely related figure in the Norton Simon Museum, California, accession number M.2004.1.S. Literature comparison: Compare a related sandstone figure of Vishnu, Cambodia, Angkor period, 12th century, in the Tokyo National Museum, collection reference number TC-382. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s Paris, 11 December 2013, lot 348 Price: EUR 121,500 or approx. EUR 161,000 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling, manner of carving, and stone, with similar face, crown, sampot, and physique. Note the similar size (66 cm).

图片