A KHMER BRONZE FIGURE OF AVALOKITESHVARA, ANGKOR PERIODKhmer Empire, 12th century. The bodhisattva standing in samapada on a square base, holding in his four hands a lotus bud, water vessel, scroll, and rosary, wearing a short pleated sampot with a striated belt decorated with pendent tassels. Richly adorned with jewelry, the hair arranged in a high topknot with a small Buddha Amitabha behind the circular diadem. The face finely detailed with full lips, ridged brows, and almond-shaped eyes.Provenance: Art of the Past, New York, 3 December 2002. Collection of Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Sharpe, Strasbourg, France, acquired from the above. A copy of the original invoice, dating the piece to the 12th century, accompanies this lot. Condition: Excellent condition commensurate with age. Old wear, minuscule nicks here and there. Fine and naturally grown malachite-green patina overall.Weight: 297.8 g Dimensions: Height 14.5 cmAvalokiteshvara is the personification of compassion, and the figure has a lively facial expression with alert eyes and a pleasant smile, bestowing benevolence on the devotee.The rigid frontal pose is characteristic of the Angkor Wat period and, in contrast to the preceding Baphuon style with its delicate curves, sculptures display an authoritarian nature not seen since the Bakheng period, possibly reflecting political developments at the time. The eyes are prominently outlined, the corners extending towards the temples, a feature found extensively in both stone and bronze sculpture of this period.Literature comparison:Compare a related bronze figure of Avalokithesvara, Angkor period, in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 1999.262.Auction result comparison:Type: Closely relatedAuction: Sotheby’s New York, 19 March 2008, lot 243Price: USD 73,000 or approx. EUR 97,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: Avalokiteshvara, copper alloy, Khmer, Angkor PeriodExpert remark: Compare the closely related pose and facial features. Note the significantly larger size (34 cm).