Khmer Empire – Cambodia A copper alloy, traditionally described as bronze. Lokeśvara with eight bronze arms. - 16.3 cm
01
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Current bid
€ 1,166
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 2,200 - € 3,000
 | €1,166 | |
|---|---|---|
 | €1,049 | |
| €999 | |
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Original Khmer bronze statue of Lokeśvara with eight arms in Bayon style, dating to the late 12th–early 13th century (c. 1180–1220), standing on a square stepped base with rich jewelry, height 16.3 cm, width 9 cm, depth 4.5 cm, weight 535.5 g, provenance from a private Belgian collection.
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Description from the seller
Rare bronze Khmer statuette representing Lokeśvara (Avalokiteśvara), the Bodhisattva of Compassion, depicted standing with eight arms. Khmer Empire, Angkor period, Bayon style, late 12th – early 13th century, around 1180–1220.
The deity stands frontally on a tall square, stepped base. It is richly adorned with a pectoral, bracelets, armbands and ankle ornaments, and wears a short sampot held by a belt ornamented with pendants. Its eight arms radiate symmetrically around the body and retain several attributes, despite the ancient wear of some extremities.
Identification as Lokeśvara / Avalokiteśvara is notably reinforced by the presence, at the center of the high coiffure, of a small representation of Buddha Amitābha, emblematic of the bodhisattva.
The treatment of the face, with lowered eyes and serene expression, the coiffure, the costume, compact proportions and Buddhist iconography correspond to the artistic language developed during the Bayon period, particularly under the reign of Jayavarman VII and in the decades surrounding it.
The statuette constitutes an interesting example of the small religious bronze statuary of the Angkorian era. Recent archaeometallurgical studies have shown the importance and high level of mastery of bronze production in ancient Cambodia, notably by the lost-wax casting technique. The base of this work is hollow, as revealed by its lower opening.
The surface presents an ancient brown to brown-red patina accompanied by green corrosion products, with wear and irregularly distributed incrustations. These alterations are consistent with the age and material history of the object. Small losses and diminutions are visible on several attributes and at protruding parts, but the overall composition, the eight arms, the face, the coiffure, the costume and most of the iconographic details are well preserved.
Dimensions: 16.3 × 9 × 4.5 cm.
Weight: 535.5 g.
Provenance: former private Belgian collection.
A detailed study accompanying the work confronts the statuette with several Khmer bronzes held in international institutional collections and with the reference archaeometallurgical corpus devoted to Angkorian bronzes.
The attribution and dating result from the macroscopic examination of the work, its iconography, its technique and its confrontation with available scientific and museum corpora. No instrumental analysis of the alloy, radiography or scientific characterization of the corrosion products has been performed.
video link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/030d8ub8tmdb5i6xdtgbf/AOQed1I9CWr9oXSKYVJKyB4?rlkey=8c4l51awjmqifcbfggzozvkcj&dl=0
Seller's Story
MIMOSA SA — EXPERTISE, RESEARCH AND TRANSMISSION
For more than 26 years, I have been working as an art dealer specializing in ancient Asian arts. My work is not simply to offer objects: it is to observe them, to understand them, to study them and to document them before passing them to a new collector.
Each work presented by Mimosa SA undergoes thorough examination. Depending on its nature, this study may concern the iconography, the style, the proportions, the material, the execution techniques, surface traces, patina, the condition, restorations, provenance as well as relevant bibliographic, museum or archaeological comparisons. When justified, additional scientific analyses may also be undertaken.
Our approach rests on the experience of sight, gained from direct contact with the works for over two decades, but also on methodical and constantly renewed research. We always favor a cautious, coherent and argued attribution rather than a seductive but insufficiently substantiated assertion.
Transparency is at the heart of our approach. The wear, gaps, accidents, ancient restorations or more recent interventions are reported as precisely as possible. When an attribution carries uncertainty or remains a working hypothesis, it is clearly presented as such.
Present on Catawiki since 2016, we have chosen to maintain a regular selection of works there in order to meet international collectors who value authenticity, knowledge and quality of documentation.
Each acquisition is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity issued under our professional responsibility. For the most important works, this certificate takes the form of a genuine study dossier gathering the main technical, stylistic, iconographic, historical and bibliographic observations made during our research.
The same standard applies to shipping. Over the years, we have developed a packaging method adapted to old, fragile, heavy or complex-shaped objects. Each work is protected, immobilized and carefully packaged, according to its material and its particularities. The shipping costs correspond to the real needs for protection, handling, insurance and secure transport. Shipping is never regarded as a source of commercial profit.
Acquiring a work from Mimosa SA is to receive a selected, studied, described, documented and prepared object with the same care that we would wish for a work destined for our own collection.
Translated by Google TranslateRare bronze Khmer statuette representing Lokeśvara (Avalokiteśvara), the Bodhisattva of Compassion, depicted standing with eight arms. Khmer Empire, Angkor period, Bayon style, late 12th – early 13th century, around 1180–1220.
The deity stands frontally on a tall square, stepped base. It is richly adorned with a pectoral, bracelets, armbands and ankle ornaments, and wears a short sampot held by a belt ornamented with pendants. Its eight arms radiate symmetrically around the body and retain several attributes, despite the ancient wear of some extremities.
Identification as Lokeśvara / Avalokiteśvara is notably reinforced by the presence, at the center of the high coiffure, of a small representation of Buddha Amitābha, emblematic of the bodhisattva.
The treatment of the face, with lowered eyes and serene expression, the coiffure, the costume, compact proportions and Buddhist iconography correspond to the artistic language developed during the Bayon period, particularly under the reign of Jayavarman VII and in the decades surrounding it.
The statuette constitutes an interesting example of the small religious bronze statuary of the Angkorian era. Recent archaeometallurgical studies have shown the importance and high level of mastery of bronze production in ancient Cambodia, notably by the lost-wax casting technique. The base of this work is hollow, as revealed by its lower opening.
The surface presents an ancient brown to brown-red patina accompanied by green corrosion products, with wear and irregularly distributed incrustations. These alterations are consistent with the age and material history of the object. Small losses and diminutions are visible on several attributes and at protruding parts, but the overall composition, the eight arms, the face, the coiffure, the costume and most of the iconographic details are well preserved.
Dimensions: 16.3 × 9 × 4.5 cm.
Weight: 535.5 g.
Provenance: former private Belgian collection.
A detailed study accompanying the work confronts the statuette with several Khmer bronzes held in international institutional collections and with the reference archaeometallurgical corpus devoted to Angkorian bronzes.
The attribution and dating result from the macroscopic examination of the work, its iconography, its technique and its confrontation with available scientific and museum corpora. No instrumental analysis of the alloy, radiography or scientific characterization of the corrosion products has been performed.
video link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/030d8ub8tmdb5i6xdtgbf/AOQed1I9CWr9oXSKYVJKyB4?rlkey=8c4l51awjmqifcbfggzozvkcj&dl=0
Seller's Story
MIMOSA SA — EXPERTISE, RESEARCH AND TRANSMISSION
For more than 26 years, I have been working as an art dealer specializing in ancient Asian arts. My work is not simply to offer objects: it is to observe them, to understand them, to study them and to document them before passing them to a new collector.
Each work presented by Mimosa SA undergoes thorough examination. Depending on its nature, this study may concern the iconography, the style, the proportions, the material, the execution techniques, surface traces, patina, the condition, restorations, provenance as well as relevant bibliographic, museum or archaeological comparisons. When justified, additional scientific analyses may also be undertaken.
Our approach rests on the experience of sight, gained from direct contact with the works for over two decades, but also on methodical and constantly renewed research. We always favor a cautious, coherent and argued attribution rather than a seductive but insufficiently substantiated assertion.
Transparency is at the heart of our approach. The wear, gaps, accidents, ancient restorations or more recent interventions are reported as precisely as possible. When an attribution carries uncertainty or remains a working hypothesis, it is clearly presented as such.
Present on Catawiki since 2016, we have chosen to maintain a regular selection of works there in order to meet international collectors who value authenticity, knowledge and quality of documentation.
Each acquisition is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity issued under our professional responsibility. For the most important works, this certificate takes the form of a genuine study dossier gathering the main technical, stylistic, iconographic, historical and bibliographic observations made during our research.
The same standard applies to shipping. Over the years, we have developed a packaging method adapted to old, fragile, heavy or complex-shaped objects. Each work is protected, immobilized and carefully packaged, according to its material and its particularities. The shipping costs correspond to the real needs for protection, handling, insurance and secure transport. Shipping is never regarded as a source of commercial profit.
Acquiring a work from Mimosa SA is to receive a selected, studied, described, documented and prepared object with the same care that we would wish for a work destined for our own collection.
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Culture
Khmer Empire – Cambodia
Century/timeframe
début du XIIIe siècle, vers 1180–1220 | Style du Bayon
Name of object
Lokeśvara with eight bronze arms.
Acquired from
Private collection
Year acquired
1998
Material
A copper alloy, traditionally described as bronze.
Country acquired from
Belgium
Condition
Good overall condition considering the age and the complexity of the work.
Previous owner acquired from
Private collection
Height
16.3 cm
Previous owner - year acquired
1998
Width
9 cm
Previous owner - country acquired from
Thailand
Depth
4.5 cm
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
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The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
