11th Oct, 2023 11:00

THREE-DAY AUCTION - Fine Chinese Art / 中國藝術集珍 / Buddhism & Hinduism

 
Lot 220
 

220

A LARGE BRONZE FIGURE OF SADASHIVA, ANGKOR PERIOD, BAYON STYLE

Sold for €10,400

including Buyer's Premium


Lot details


Exhibited:
Los Angeles County Museum of Art, USA, according to the expertise from Jacques Barrère Art D’Extrême Orient, dated 9 July 2001.

Khmer Empire, late 12th to early 13th century. Standing on a small square plinth in sampada with his arms radiating around him, the five-headed deity is clad in a short sampot with fishtail pleat and jeweled sash, to the back a flared tang. The body finely ornamented in jewelry, including a collar necklace, bracelets, armbands, earrings, and an ornate diadem. The five faces finely cast with almond-shaped eyes, an aquiline nose, an urna, and full lips.

Provenance: Former Pan Asian Collection. Jacques Barrère, Paris, France, acquired from the above. A copy of a signed expertise from Jacques Barrère Art D’Extrême Orient, dated 9 July 2001, confirming the dating and provenance above, accompanies this lot. The expertise also states a ‘replacement value’ of 170,000 FF or EUR 37,500, converted and adjusted for inflation. The Jacques Barrère Gallery is located in the heart of Paris, in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés district. Since 1969, it has held exhibitions to promote and preserve Far-Eastern art. The gallery specializes in Chinese sculpture, archaeology, ceramics and decorative arts, as well as Japanese works of art and porcelain. Statuary art from Gandhara, India or South-East Asia is also regularly displayed. Objects once owned by Barrère are now in major museums around the world, including the Guimet, the Cernuschi, and the Shanghai Museum. The Barrère gallery is a regular exhibitor at TEFAF in Maastricht.
Condition: Excellent condition, commensurate with age. There is extensive wear, some casting flaws, minor losses, signs of weathering and erosion, small nicks and shallow surface scratches, all as expected from a Khmer bronze of nearly 1,000 years of age. Faint remnants of gilt.

Weight: 3,557 g
Dimensions: Height 38.8 cm

Please click here to read the full description

Five-headed images of Shiva appear in Khmer Art from the tenth century onwards. This Bayon period bronze of the late twelfth to early thirteenth centuries represents the god in his form as either Sadashiva or Mahesha. Indian texts state that the highest principle of Shiva is transcendent and without form. Sadashiva is considered to represent the god as he begins to assume form in the material world. When fully manifested in the physical world, Shiva is considered as Mahesha. These two forms are characterized by five heads arranged in two tiers, four facing the cardinal directions and the fifth on top, and ten arms each holding an attribute. The primary face is marked with Shiva’s characteristic third eye.

The five faces are believed to represent earth, water, fire, wind, and sky, or - alternatively - violence (south face), maternity (north face), joy (west face), union (east face), and benevolence (face on top of the head). Sadashiva, a name particularly given to the five-faced and ten-armed Shiva, also directly refers to the benevolence on top of the head. It was introduced from India to the Khmer kingdom in the ninth century during the reign of Jayavarman II.

Shaivism was the most prevalent sect of Hinduism and was sponsored by numerous Angkorian kings over the centuries. A well-developed sculptural tradition based around this sect consequently arose and Shiva was depicted in many forms varying from the aniconic linga to large scale images in the round. Five-headed images of Shiva such as this example were executed in both stone and bronze and represent one of the more unique depictions of the deity.

Literature comparison:
Compare a bronze figure of Sadashiva in Angkor et dix siècles d'art Khmer, Exhibition Catalogue, Paris: Reunion des Musées Nationaux, 1997, pl.111. Compare a closely related Khmer Bayon-style bronze of Shiva as Sadashiva or Mahesha, 28 cm high, dated to the late 12th-early 13th century, in the Asian Civilisations Museum, Singapore, accession number 2015-00374. Also compare a closely related Khmer period bronze of Standing Shiva, dated to the 12th century, in the collection of Miho Museum, Japan. Also compare a closely related Khmer bronze of Sadashiva, dated to circa 12th-13th century, in the Champasak Provincial Museum, Pakse, Laos. Also compare with another Sadashiva idol on display at Bangkok National Museum. Also compare with another figure bronze figure of Shiva with five arms and heads, 35 cm high, in the Musee National de Phnom Penh.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Bonhams London, 8 June 2004, lot 437
Estimate: GBP 18,000 or approx. EUR 42,500 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A large and important bronze figure of a five headed ten-armed deity, probably Sadasiva, Khmer, Angkor Period, Angkor Wat style, 12th Century
Expert remark: Note the smaller size (32 cm).

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s Amsterdam, 10 December 2002, lot 114
Price: EUR 33,460 or approx. EUR 52,500 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A Khmer, Angkor Vat style, bronze figure of Prajnaparamita
Expert remark: Note the larger size (46 cm).
 


Exhibited:
Los Angeles County Museum of Art, USA, according to the expertise from Jacques Barrère Art D’Extrême Orient, dated 9 July 2001.

Khmer Empire, late 12th to early 13th century. Standing on a small square plinth in sampada with his arms radiating around him, the five-headed deity is clad in a short sampot with fishtail pleat and jeweled sash, to the back a flared tang. The body finely ornamented in jewelry, including a collar necklace, bracelets, armbands, earrings, and an ornate diadem. The five faces finely cast with almond-shaped eyes, an aquiline nose, an urna, and full lips.

Provenance: Former Pan Asian Collection. Jacques Barrère, Paris, France, acquired from the above. A copy of a signed expertise from Jacques Barrère Art D’Extrême Orient, dated 9 July 2001, confirming the dating and provenance above, accompanies this lot. The expertise also states a ‘replacement value’ of 170,000 FF or EUR 37,500, converted and adjusted for inflation. The Jacques Barrère Gallery is located in the heart of Paris, in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés district. Since 1969, it has held exhibitions to promote and preserve Far-Eastern art. The gallery specializes in Chinese sculpture, archaeology, ceramics and decorative arts, as well as Japanese works of art and porcelain. Statuary art from Gandhara, India or South-East Asia is also regularly displayed. Objects once owned by Barrère are now in major museums around the world, including the Guimet, the Cernuschi, and the Shanghai Museum. The Barrère gallery is a regular exhibitor at TEFAF in Maastricht.
Condition: Excellent condition, commensurate with age. There is extensive wear, some casting flaws, minor losses, signs of weathering and erosion, small nicks and shallow surface scratches, all as expected from a Khmer bronze of nearly 1,000 years of age. Faint remnants of gilt.

Weight: 3,557 g
Dimensions: Height 38.8 cm

Please click here to read the full description

Five-headed images of Shiva appear in Khmer Art from the tenth century onwards. This Bayon period bronze of the late twelfth to early thirteenth centuries represents the god in his form as either Sadashiva or Mahesha. Indian texts state that the highest principle of Shiva is transcendent and without form. Sadashiva is considered to represent the god as he begins to assume form in the material world. When fully manifested in the physical world, Shiva is considered as Mahesha. These two forms are characterized by five heads arranged in two tiers, four facing the cardinal directions and the fifth on top, and ten arms each holding an attribute. The primary face is marked with Shiva’s characteristic third eye.

The five faces are believed to represent earth, water, fire, wind, and sky, or - alternatively - violence (south face), maternity (north face), joy (west face), union (east face), and benevolence (face on top of the head). Sadashiva, a name particularly given to the five-faced and ten-armed Shiva, also directly refers to the benevolence on top of the head. It was introduced from India to the Khmer kingdom in the ninth century during the reign of Jayavarman II.

Shaivism was the most prevalent sect of Hinduism and was sponsored by numerous Angkorian kings over the centuries. A well-developed sculptural tradition based around this sect consequently arose and Shiva was depicted in many forms varying from the aniconic linga to large scale images in the round. Five-headed images of Shiva such as this example were executed in both stone and bronze and represent one of the more unique depictions of the deity.

Literature comparison:
Compare a bronze figure of Sadashiva in Angkor et dix siècles d'art Khmer, Exhibition Catalogue, Paris: Reunion des Musées Nationaux, 1997, pl.111. Compare a closely related Khmer Bayon-style bronze of Shiva as Sadashiva or Mahesha, 28 cm high, dated to the late 12th-early 13th century, in the Asian Civilisations Museum, Singapore, accession number 2015-00374. Also compare a closely related Khmer period bronze of Standing Shiva, dated to the 12th century, in the collection of Miho Museum, Japan. Also compare a closely related Khmer bronze of Sadashiva, dated to circa 12th-13th century, in the Champasak Provincial Museum, Pakse, Laos. Also compare with another Sadashiva idol on display at Bangkok National Museum. Also compare with another figure bronze figure of Shiva with five arms and heads, 35 cm high, in the Musee National de Phnom Penh.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Bonhams London, 8 June 2004, lot 437
Estimate: GBP 18,000 or approx. EUR 42,500 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A large and important bronze figure of a five headed ten-armed deity, probably Sadasiva, Khmer, Angkor Period, Angkor Wat style, 12th Century
Expert remark: Note the smaller size (32 cm).

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s Amsterdam, 10 December 2002, lot 114
Price: EUR 33,460 or approx. EUR 52,500 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A Khmer, Angkor Vat style, bronze figure of Prajnaparamita
Expert remark: Note the larger size (46 cm).

Zacke Live Online Bidding

Our online bidding platform makes it easier than ever to bid in our auctions! When you bid through our website, you can take advantage of our premium buyer's terms without incurring any additional online bidding surcharges.

To bid live online, you'll need to create an online account. Once your account is created and your identity is verified, you can register to bid in an auction up to 12 hours before the auction begins. 

Create an Account

  

Intended Spend and Bid Limits

When you register to bid in an online auction, you will need to share your intended maximum spending budget for the auction. We will then review your intended spend and set a bid limit for you. Once you have pre-registered for a live online auction, you can see your intended spend and bid limit by going to 'Account Settings' and clicking on 'Live Bidding Registrations'. 

Your bid limit will be the maximum amount you can bid during the auction. Your bid limit is for the hammer price and is not affected by the buyer’s premium and VAT.  For example, if you have a bid limit of €1,000 and place two winning bids for €300 and €200, then you will only be able to bid €500 for the rest of the auction. If you try to place a bid that is higher than €500, you will not be able to do so.

 

Online Absentee and Telephone Bids

You can now leave absentee and telephone bids on our website! 

Absentee Bidding

Once you've created an account and your identity is verified, you can leave your absentee bid directly on the lot page. We will contact you when your bids have been confirmed.

Telephone Bidding

Once you've created an account and your identity is verified, you can leave telephone bids online. We will contact you when your bids have been confirmed.

Telephone Bidding Form

 

Classic Absentee and Telephone Bidding Form

You can still submit absentee and telephone bids by email or fax if you prefer. Simply fill out the Absentee Bidding/Telephone bidding form and return it to us by email at office@zacke.at or by fax at +43 (1) 532 04 52 20. You can download the PDF from our Upcoming Auctions page. 

 

How-To Guides

How to Create Your Personal Zacke Account
How to Register to Bid on Zacke Live
How to Leave Absentee Bids Online
How to Leave Telephone Bids Online

 

中文版本的操作指南 

创建新账号
注册Zacke Live在线直播竞拍(免平台费)
缺席投标和电话投标

 

Third-Party Bidding

We partner with best-in-class third-party partners to make it easy for you to bid online in the channel of your choice. Please note that if you bid with one of our third-party online partners, then there will be a live bidding surcharge on top of your final purchase price. You can find all of our fees here. Here's a full list of our third-party partners:

  • 51 Bid Live
  • EpaiLive
  • ArtFoxLive
  • Invaluable
  • LiveAuctioneers
  • the-saleroom
  • lot-tissimo
  • Drouot

Please note that we place different auctions on different platforms. For example, in general, we only place Chinese art auctions on 51 Bid Live.

  

Bidding in Person

You must register to bid in person and will be assigned a paddle at the auction. Please contact us at office@zacke.at or +43 (1) 532 04 52 for the latest local health and safety guidelines.