Khmer Sculpture Sandstone Vajimukha Horse Head Figure 'Banteay Srei Style'

Description: A beautiful sculpture Khmer sandstone Standing in samabhanga, this theriomorphic statue (Vajimukha just means "horse-head") might depict either Hayagriva or Kalki; both are avatars of Vishnu and destroyers of evil. Hayagriva protects the Vedas, while Kalki is the tenth avatar who will destroy the world at the end of time. The decoration is as rich and confident as the narrative scenes which ornamentation reflects a perfect mastery of sculpting and their decoration usually has an anecdotal element.The modeling of this statue is an exemplar of Banteay Srei Style Khmer sculpture. Both arms broken, wearing vertical striated sampot secured by a belt and decorated with a double fish-tail flange falling between his legs, his head modelled as horse-head, with pricked ears, large snout and tiara in front of the chignon, mounted which Vajimukha or Vishnu-Kalkin is the tenth incarnation or avatar of the god Vishnu. He is represented with a horse-head on a human body.This sculpture enlivened with potential energy, the idealized form of Shiva stands in samapada, with his weight evenly distributed. The sculpture is a superb example of Banteay Srei style, replete with the subtle asymmetries that give rise to its compelling nature. The concept of divine kingship, or Devaraja, was central to Khmer society. Frequently images of Khmer rulers exhibit elements of portraiture integrated with iconography reserved for deities. This sculpture is such an example. Here, Shiva stands in the samabhanga, or single bend pose.He wears an elaborate sampot around his hips, its upper edge hugs his abdomen in a sweeping curve. The narrow pleats ripple in subtly irregular striation, and the edges are tied in a butterfly knot nearly at the middle of his back and fall in an array of pockets and folds at the front, each with a renewed elegance. The fabric is pulled between the legs and secured with a careful arrangement of folds beneath a flat belt. Across the figure’s left leg, one edge of the fabric is pulled up and looped beneath the belt to fall into a splayed pocket. Where the center of the upper hem sweeps beneath the slightly extended abdomen, an edge peeks outward from within.Shiva’s masculine body is carved with the restrained sensuality that is characteristic of Khmer sculpture. His upper torso is composed of rounded contours culminating in the face which bears an engaging expression. Eyes open, his focus is outward, the incised third eye reveals his identity as the Hindu God Shiva. His full lips form a sweet smile, and are framed by a single incised line. His chin is softened by a delicate beard, and his hair is plaited in rows that defy a rigid geometry, rising to a rounded chignon.If you examine the enlarged photos of this sculpture, you'll see that it has been meticulously crafted with stunning details. I'm confident that you'll be 100% satisfied with this sculpture, which is not only a beautiful work of art but also great antiquities. Thank you for considering our offerings, and we look forward to serving you!At our shop, we take pride in offering a unique collection of Khmer sculpture that are truly one-of-a-kind. Many of these items are quite old and rare, and once they are sold, we may not be able to find another one to replace it. That's why we believe that whoever possesses one of these special sculpture can be considered to have true pride.We understand that our customers are discerning collectors who appreciate the value and significance of these rare artifacts. That's why we make every effort to ensure that our collection is authentic and of the highest quality. We believe that owning one of these sculptures is not just a matter of acquiring a beautiful object, but also of connecting with a rich cultural tradition that spans centuries. So if you're looking for a truly special Khmer sculpture to add to your collection, we invite you to explore our selection. Message us for any questions.Dimensions: Height 43.5 inches.(include stand), height 41.5 (without stand) approximate. Payment/ shipping/ policy1 Please make payment within 24 hours after purchasing or auction end.2 Item will be shipped by Registered Airmail. Online tracking number will be provided.3 Contact us if you did not receive your item after 4 weeks.4 Any inconvenience case we do, accept return and full refund.5 Before leaving any neutral or negative feedback, please contact us. We will try our best to solve your issues.6 Please feel free to contact us if you feel unhappy or get broken item.

Price: 35000 USD

Location: Bangkok

End Time: 2025-01-11T08:32:47.000Z

Shipping Cost: 450 USD