416 - A SEATED RARE FORM OF SHIVA, SANDSTONE, CAMBODIA, 10TH CENTURY, BAPHUON STYLE

A SEATED RARE FORM OF SHIVA, SANDSTONE, CAMBODIA, 10TH CENTURY, BAPHUON STYLE Dimensions: Height 48 cm Wide 38 cm Depth 17 cm Weight: 20 Kilograms The figure is shown in an unusual seated pose, with the right leg bent on the ground and the left knee raised, the right hand resting on the thigh (arm broken) while the left arm, now fragmentary, once extended outward. The torso is naturalistically modeled with a rounded stomach, broad shoulders, and a gentle sway of the hips that conveys balance and ease. The face is serene, with almond-shaped eyes beneath arched brows, a broad nose, and full lips forming a faint smile. The high conical chignon is secured with a band, carved with detailed striations and flanked by pendulous ears. The figure wears a short sampot tied with a central knot, the fabric cascading in finely incised pleats across the raised leg. This sculpture belongs stylistically to the Baphuon period of the 10th century, noted for its harmonious proportions, refined modeling, and elegance in the treatment of facial features and attire. This rare form exemplifies Khmer mastery in rendering divinity with a sense of both majesty and accessibility, blending the god’s transcendence with an almost human naturalism.