A SANDSTONE FIGURE OF VISHNU, PRE-ANGKOR PERIOD, PHNOM DA STYLE

拍品描述

A SANDSTONE FIGURE OF VISHNU, PRE-ANGKOR PERIOD, PHNOM DA STYLE Ancient region of Funan, Mekong Delta, 6th-7th century. Superbly carved, the Preserver of the Universe standing in samabhanga, the primary hands holding a lotus bud and knop of a mace, the raised secondary hands with the conch and chakra. Dressed in a short sampot fastened at the waist by a thin belt, centered by a bulbous fold issuing two overlapping fishtail pleats. The face is sensitively modeled in a serene expression marked by almond-shaped eyes with neatly incised pupils, an aquiline nose, and full lips forming a gentle smile, flanked by elongated earlobes, the head surmounted by a tall cylindrical mitre revealing the minutely incised coiled locks underneath. Dimensions: Height 80 cm (excl. stand), 86 cm (incl. stand) With an associated stand. (2) This image was created during the Pre-Angkor period, before the establishment of the Khmer capital around Angkor in the beginning of the ninth century. Stylistically, it follows the traditions of the later Phnom Da idiom (Phnom Da Style-B) of the second half of the sixth century. Nearly all discovered stone sculptures in the Phnom Da style appear to be associated with Vishnu and his incarnations, as exemplified by this piece. The Phnom Da style is notably cohesive and consistent, exhibiting less variation compared to other stylistic periods. This uniformity suggests a focused artistic vision, reflecting a deep reverence for Vishnu and his realm, as well as a clear dedication to maintaining a specific aesthetic throughout the period. Vishnu, the member of the Hindu triad (Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva) responsible for the preservation of the world, is recognizable through his high cylindrical miter and his four arms. Vishnu is a royal, martial deity and would have been holding three martial implements: a mace, a war discus, and a conch to serve as a battle trumpet. His fourth hand probably held a lotus bud, a generic symbol of divinity, or an orb, the symbol of the earth. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related sandstone figure of Vishnu, Tuol Dai Buon, Pre-Angkor period, Phnom Da, 6th century, 192 cm tall, in the NMC, accession number Ka.1597, illustrated by Helen Ibbitson Jessup (ed.), Millennium of Glory: Sculpture of Angkor, Washington, 1997, p. 168. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s Paris, 20 November 2003, lot 407 Price: EUR 43,475 or approx. EUR 63,500 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject, modeling, and manner of carving, with similar fishtail pleat to the sampot. Note the different size (43 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Zacke, Vienna, 17 October 2024, lot 234 Price: EUR 15,600 or approx. EUR 16,800 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling of the torso, sampot, and face. Note the different size (153 cm).

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