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RARE STATUE DE DIVINITE MI-HOMME
MI-FEMME EN GRES
CAMBODGE, KHMER, EPOQUE KOH KER,
XEME SIECLE

La divinité est représentée agenouillée sur un socle
rectangulaire. Sa main droite repose sur un genou et l’autre
était probablement tendue vers l'avant. Vêtue d’un sampot
plissé, son torse est mi-féminin mi-masculin. Son visage
esquisse un sourire énigmatique. Elle est coifée d’une
couronne et d'une tiare.
Hauteur : 93 cm. (36¬ in.)

€70,000-90,000 $77,000-98,000
£63,000-81,000

PROVENANCE:

With Galerie Moderne, Brussels, 22 October 1962, lot 776.
Private Luxembourg collection.

AN IMPORTANT SANDSTONE FIGURE OF A HALF-MALE
HALF-FEMALE DEITY

CAMBODIA, KHMER, KOH KER PERIOD, 10TH CENTURY

柬埔寨 高棉帝國 貢開寺時期 十世紀
砂岩男女同體神像
來源：
於1962年10月22日購自布魯塞爾古董商Galerie

Moderne, lot 776

盧森堡私人收藏

This extremely rare and large stele depicts an androgynous

image composed of a half-male and half-female body.
The right side shows the male component with the face
framed by a moustache and a beard while the female part
demonstrates a prominent breast. No other examples of
this kind seem to have been published. It remains dificult
to ascertain their correct iconographic name. Unfortunately,
the attributes are also broken and damaged, which does not
help to further identify them.

The date of its creation can be placed in the Koh Ker period.
It is known that this period saw interesting and innovative
developments in architecture and also iconography intended
for temple shrines. This sculpture fts well in such an
innovative tradition. The Koh Ker rulers adhered to the Hindu
religion, especially the Shaiva sect. As a consequence,
this particularly composed deity most likely has a Hindu
background. Yet, the current fgure cannot be identifed
as Shiva and Parvati as Ardhanarishvara. Shiva’s forehead
would have the third eye and his hair should be combed
in the matted hair lock style or jatamakuta. Vishnu and
Lakshmi would wear the depicted crown or kiritamakuta.
Although in known non-Khmer examples, they could be
standing and have multiple arms. However, it is not to be
excluded that this fne and enigmatic sculpture represents
the androgynous form of Vishnu and Lakshmi. Otherwise,
the sculpture could depict a royal couple who identifed
themselves with the god of Preservation and his consort.

A technical report is available on request

22 ART D'ASIE · 14 DÉCEMBRE 2016