A BROWN-GLAZED HUMANOID STONEWARE JAR, ANGKOR PERIOD Khmer Empire, 11th-12th century. The anthropomorphic ovoid body supported on a thick foot and rising to a tall trumpet mouth, gently waisted at the shoulders to delineate the face from the torso. The face carved with an astonished expression detailed with an open mouth and stubby nose, all under bushy brows, flanked by alert ears; the torso carved with two hands wrapped around a stock. Covered overall in a thick chocolate brown glaze falling well short of the foot and pooling attractively in thick drops to reveal the buff-colored body underneath. Provenance: The private collection of John Jessen Hansen, Denmark, acquired in 1982. Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear and firing irregularities including glaze recesses, fine cracks, and pitting. Minor fritting to the foot. Weight: 771.9 g Dimensions: Height 19.5 cm Toward the end of the 6th to early 7th century, Khmer potters instituted an important technique for ‘mass production’ of ceramics when they began to use the wheel. Ceramics of this period were sometimes decorated with slip and paint, but this practice was abandoned after 800 when glazed stoneware first appeared. The first glazed ceramics made in Southeast Asia beyond the orbit of Chinese control were associated with the Khmer rulers Indravarman and Yasovarman, who reigned from the 880s to 940. During the 11th century, zoomorphic and humanoid shapes, such as the human face on the present lot, begin to appear and the clay becomes finer, with a gray body. Other decorative techniques, such as moldings, incisions and carved patterns appear after 1100 on zoomorphic and humanoid vessels. Gourd-shaped jars and bottles also began to appear during this time, with brown glazes becoming predominant. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related Angkor period anthropomorphic bottle in human form, dated 11th century, 22.9 cm tall, in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 1989.354. Compare a closely related Angkor period bottle with anthropomorphic shape, mid-12th century, in the collection of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, accession number 314.1981. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Galerie Zacke, Vienna, 13 October 2023, lot 702 Price: EUR 3,900 or approx. EUR 4,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A brown-glazed stoneware jar with a human face, Angkor period Expert remark: Compare the related form and similar glaze and carving of anthropomorphic features. Note the larger size (35.5 cm).