Vishnu Statue - Antique 10th Century Style Standing Mounted Sandstone Vishnu Torso - 80cm / 32"

Antique 10th Century Style Standing Mounted Sandstone Vishnu Torso - 80cm / 32"

Measures (Height) 80cm/32"

This impressive sculpture almost certainly represents Vishnu, the Hindu God of Creation.

The deity stands on a rectangular wood base (later).

Stylistically, the image is transitional between the Bakheng and Koh Ker styles. The traditional stylistic designations that have been used to date Khmer sculpture were not always followed and are often too flexible.

The deity wears a tiered octagonal chignon-cover with a plain nape-cloth surrounded by a diadem carved in the stone. The Chignon-cover is shown in typical Bakheng style with one corner aligned with the nose and the diadem is tied in back with a bow having two loops above the knot, another Bakheng style feature. On the other hand the pleated sampot can kpin and accompanying scarf are arranged in the Koh Ker style in which the upper fishtail is shorter than the lower fishtail. In the mature Bakheng style the upper fishtail is longer than the lower one.

The torso has a slender waist, broad hips and shoulders, wearing a vertically striated sampot, bound by a plain belt with the fabric pulled between the legs and wrapped around the belt at the back, the pleated ends forming a 'butterfly wing' shape.

This is a very elegant figure. Carved with great detail, for example, with the inner rims of the ears delicately scalloped. The facial features include full rimmed lips. eyebrows represented by a continuous ridged line, a moustache and a beard. The arms are broken off, so the traditional Vishnu attributes are missing.

Vishnu is both world protector and preserver, restorer of moral order - he is all-powerful and all-pervasive by nature.

Provenance: Ex- private USA Collection. Condition: Please see images for fissures.

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