A FEMALE SANDSTONE TORSO, KOH KER
Cambodia, Khmer, village of Koh Ker, 10th century. The robust figure elegantly carved with broad shoulders and a round belly adorned with a raised and incised waistband and apron.

Provenance: Axel Aylwen, Bargany House, Scotland, acquired in Thailand during the 1970s. A private collector, acquired from the above in 1998. A copy of the original provenance letter, dated May 7th 1998, is accompanying this lot.
Condition: Extensive weathering and wear, minor dents, nicks and losses as visible on the images. Overall fine condition, especially when considering the age of this statue.

Weight: 5.5 kilograms
Dimensions: Height 36.5 cm (the statue) and 43 cm (including the base)

Koh Ker, which lies 80 km northeast of Angkor, was the capital of the Khmer Empire from 928-944. Koh Ker’s sculptural style is thus distinct from those developed in Angkor’s immediate vicinity. The stone sculpture, often monumental in size, is imbued with a heightened sense of movement and a suppleness of form.

The present example exhibits the “dynamic equilibrium” that, for Boisselier, characterizes the sculpture of Koh Ker. See J. Boisselier, Asie du Sud-Est, 1966, page 248.

Modern base. (2)