17 - A BUDDHAS ON KALA SANDSTONE, APPROX 12TH CENTURY, KHMER EMPIRE

A BUDDHAS ON KALA SANDSTONE, APPROX 12TH CENTURY, KHMER EMPIRE Dimensions: Height 77 cm Wide 45 cm Depth 12 cm without base Weight: 39 Kilograms with base This finely carved sandstone relief depicts a central Buddha seated in meditation posture within a pointed arch, attended by two smaller figures shown in devotional poses. Beneath them emerges a powerful kala mask with large bulging eyes and wide jaws, grasping the surrounding frame in its clenched fists. The kala, a common protective motif in Khmer art, symbolizes the devouring of evil and the impermanence of life. The crisp modeling of the Buddha figures and the stylized vegetal ornament surrounding the arch reflect the high craftsmanship of Khmer stone carving during the Angkor period. Such architectural fragments would have adorned temple complexes, serving both decorative and devotional functions. This piece captures the Khmer synthesis of symbolic guardianship with serene Buddhist imagery, highlighting the empire’s religious and artistic achievements in the 12th century.