Lot 193A
Southeast Asia, Cambodia, Khmer Empire, Angkor Period, ca. 12th to 13th century CE. A serene and contemplative portrait of the Enlightened One, this carved stone head of the Buddha from the Khmer Empire radiates quiet authority and spiritual grace. Sculpted during the height of the Angkor Period, the head retains traces of gilding on the ushnisha and crown, a faint memory of the divine luminosity it once projected. The face is full and softly modeled, the eyes gently closed in meditation, the lips curved in a subtle, knowing smile. The stylistic features are emblematic of Khmer sacred art: arched brows, high cheekbones, elongated earlobes, and the domed ushnisha signifying enlightened wisdom. The hair, originally rendered in tight curls, is now worn with time, though small traces remain along the brow line. The ears extend gracefully to the shoulders, reflecting the Buddha's princely past and his renunciation of worldly riches. Size: 12" L x 14.3" W x 18.9" H (30.5 cm x 36.3 cm x 48 cm); 25" H (63.5 cm) on included custom stand.
Though the torso is now lost, the head alone conveys a commanding presence. Its scale and refined execution suggest it once crowned a large devotional image placed within a temple or monastic sanctuary. Carved in dense, fine-grained stone, the surface bears the mellowed patina of centuries, with patches of weathered gilding still glinting faintly across the topknot.
The Khmer Empire, centered at Angkor, was a pinnacle of Southeast Asian art and architecture. Under rulers such as Jayavarman VII, Buddhist iconography flourished, often infused with a sense of introspective calm and celestial poise. This head is a product of that golden age - inward-looking, luminous, and alive with sacred presence. Now mounted for display, this fragment offers a powerful window into the Khmer vision of spiritual kingship and transcendent form.
Provenance: Collection of Y. Kayvan, Los Angeles, California, USA, acquired from a Los Angeles, California, USA gallery acquisition dates range from the late 1990s to 2005
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#194948
- Condition: Fragment of a larger piece as shown. Loss of applied hair coils, as well as some chips and abrasions commensurate with age. Liberal remaining detail and gilding.
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