A BRONZE CHARIOT FINIAL WITH GARUDA AND NAGA, BAYON STYLE, ANGKOR PERIOD, 12TH-13TH CENTURY

拍品描述

A BRONZE CHARIOT FINIAL WITH GARUDA AND NAGA, BAYON STYLE, ANGKOR PERIOD, 12TH-13TH CENTURY Khmer Empire. Finely cast and well detailed, the Garuda standing upon a large multi-headed naga, his arms raised and bent at the elbows, the wings dramatically spread behind him. The fierce deity is finely modeled with bulging eyes, a pronounced beak, and an elaborate pointed headdress, his body adorned with a necklace, bracelets, armlets, and a hatch designed sampot. The naga below is rendered with five serpent heads emerging in high relief, each with finely incised scales, scrolling ornament, and expressive features, the body forming a sweeping curved shape terminating in a hollow cylindrical socket for attachment. Dimensions: Height 32.5 cm (excl. stand), 41 cm (incl. stand) With an associated stand. (2) This intricately cast finial is a good example of Khmer metalwork from the Angkor period. The element would have been used on a Khmer chariot as a symbol of power and strength, perhaps even designed for use in battle. It depicts a fierce-looking Garuda, raising his powerful chest in an intimidating stance, above a multiheaded naga whose heads emerge dynamically from the elaborately cast body below. Such mythical creatures are commonly encountered in Khmer art, particularly in the bas-reliefs of Angkor Wat, where palanquins, litters, and chariots are frequently adorned with finials in the form of naga and Garuda. Closely associated with water, fertility, and life, the naga played an important role in the Khmer iconographic tradition. Garuda is a half-bird, half-human creature that appears in both Hinduism and Buddhism. In Hinduism, he is the mount of Vishnu and the sworn enemy of the naga serpent. As a symbol of supremacy, the bird-king embodies power, grace, strength, and heroism. Although Garuda and the naga are traditionally natural enemies, their representation together could symbolize the reconciliation of opposing forces and the restoration of cosmic harmony, a motif frequently encountered in Khmer architecture and sculpture. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related bronze chariot finial with Garuda, Angkor Wat style, dated to the 12th century, 36 cm high, in the Indian Heritage Centre, Singapore, accession no. 2013-00577. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Galerie Zacke, 17 October 2024, lot 266 Price: EUR 7,150 or approx. EUR 7,500 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject, manner of casting, and elaborate treatment of the Garuda figure, naga hood, and finely incised plumage and scales. Note the similar use of a hollow cylindrical attachment element. Note the larger size (61 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s Amsterdam, 16 December 2003, lot 164 Price: EUR 9,560 or approx. EUR 15,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the related subject, modeling, and manner of casting. Note the similar size (34.5 cm).

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