Ancient Khmer Terracotta Seated Bodhisattva Attendant Figure,9th–12th Century CE

拍品描述

Dimensions:Overall height 43cm(16.93in),width of top crown ornament 14cm(5.51in)Condition & Provenance:The figure is structurally intact with fully preserved facial features,beaded necklaces,bracelets and layered skirt carvings.All delicate decorative reliefs remain sharp and well-defined with no major losses.A single thin natural earthen crack exists only along the outer rim of the base,without spreading upward to damage the main statue.The entire sculpture is coated in uniform original red burial soil patina,free of modern restoration,retouching or repainting.This Khmer terracotta statue originates from a specialized private collection of Southeast Asian Buddhist sculptures based in Los Angeles,California,USA.The collector acquired this piece from a reputable antique dealer in Bangkok back in the 1990s,and it has remained in stable private storage ever since as a top-tier Khmer terracotta artwork.Description:This seated attendant bodhisattva is a classic terracotta sculpture from the Angkor period,hand-molded and fired from indigenous Khmer red clay.The deity assumes a relaxed informal squatting posture.Topped with a three-lobed fan-shaped royal crown,its scalp bears finely incised linear hair detailing.The facial features are soft and rounded,with gently downcast eyes conveying serene compassion.Large spiral cloud earrings hang from both ears;the neck is decorated with a triangular sawtooth collar,while the torso is draped in elaborate multi-layered floral bead garlands paired with wide bangles on each arm.The right hand forms the varada mudra of gift-giving,resting lightly forward,while the left hand rests loosely atop the knee with fluid naturalistic limb contours.The lower body is draped in layered pleated robes with distinct folded textures,the legs crossed and perched on a waisted lotus petal plinth.The statue’s reverse side is plain smooth clay,fully retaining raw terracotta texture.The flat base is covered in thick undisturbed ancient burial encrustation.Terracotta Buddhist sculptures stand as one of the most iconic folk religious art forms of the Khmer Angkor Dynasty.Large fully preserved specimens are extremely scarce across the global antique market.This example boasts balanced proportions,intricate intact decorative carving and untouched original soil patina,fully embodying the gentle,elegant aesthetic core of medieval Khmer Buddhist statuary,qualifying as museum-grade Southeast Asian ancient art.

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