136 - A STANDING SANDSTONE SHIVA, ANGKOR WAT, 12TH CENTURY

A STANDING SANDSTONE SHIVA, ANGKOR WAT, 12TH CENTURY Dimensions: Height 88 cm Wide 28 cm Depth 14 cm without base Weight: 25 Kilograms with base This finely carved sandstone figure represents Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction and regeneration, sculpted during the Angkor Wat period of the Khmer Empire, in the 12th century. Rendered in a stately frontal pose, the sculpture exhibits the hallmarks of classical Angkorian style: idealized form, serene expression, and exquisite detailing of attire. Shiva is shown standing, with his weight evenly distributed, dressed in a finely pleated sampot secured by an elaborate central knot. The treatment of the garment—incised with vertical striations and curved decorative panels—reflects the sophistication of 12th-century Khmer artistry. A simple yet elegant necklace is incised along the chest, complementing the deity’s lean and youthful torso. The face is modeled with refined symmetry: almond-shaped eyes beneath arched brows, a faint smile on the lips, and elongated earlobes with remnants of once-lavish earrings. The figure wears a tiered conical mukuta (crown), ornamented with bands of beaded detail and flanked by locks of stylized hair—features associated with divine iconography of Shiva in this period. The arms and lower portions of the legs are partially missing, but the sculpture retains its powerful vertical presence and calm authority. The figure is mounted on a modern base. Though not heavily adorned with attributes, the refined headdress, half-closed eyes, and formal stance suggest this figure is Shiva, one of the principal deities enshrined at Angkor Wat, which under Suryavarman II was a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu but included shrines to other gods. Shiva's youthful, dignified presentation and regal attire correspond with Khmer courtly depictions of divine figures. Arms and part of the lower legs lost; surface wear and minor abrasions consistent with age. Excellent preservation of facial features and textile carving.