Southeast Asia, Khmer Empire, Suryavarman II period or earlier, ca. 12th century CE. A brown-grey sandstone carving of a Devi (also known as a Devata or Aspara), which means 'female goddess' in Sanskrit, from a Khmer temple. Comes with custom stand. Size: 6.55" W x 14.4" H (16.6 cm x 36.6 cm); height on stand: 18.45" (46.9 cm)

The Devi figure stands, holding a tall staff capped by a finial that represents a large flower in the earliest stages of blooming. She wears a skirt (a traditional Khmer garment called a sampot) with tight pleats and a thick belt (the ornate carving along with preserved root marks on the sampot give the impression of embroidery), as well as a grand necklace, armlets, earrings, and a headdress topped with a round bun - perhaps her hair is in the style known as bokor, the "hump of the bull", that is known from other Khmer statues. Her face is classically Khmer, expressive and sensual, with pronounced lips. Every detail of her clothing and ornament is richly detailed with fine carving, including the decoration on her headdress and the matching three-petaled flowers on her armlet and necklace.

Depictions of Devi were made by the Khmer to show the highest level of beauty - her small, round breasts, large eyes and mouth, long earlobes, and youthful body all represented the ideal embodiment of female beauty. However, we believe that these idealized statues were also modeled on real people at the Khmer court (by the 12th century and probably before). A class of court artisans, supervised by priests, created each figure individually. The Khmer loved to represent women in their sculptural art - Angkor Wat, for example, which was built by Suryavarman II, contains carvings of 1,796 women. Recent facial analysis of the carvings by archaeologists suggest that they represent real women.



Provenance: Ex-private Arizona, USA collection

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#118820

A fragment, with missing lower legs, losses to top of head and left arm. Expected age wear to form, but details are still vivid. Beautiful root marks on the lower body, especially the skirt.