Khmer Vishnu, Angkor Period, 12th/13th Century

Description

Khmer Deity, likely Vishnu, Angkor Period, 12th/13th Century
Sandstone, Height 99 cm (39 inches) without the high quality metal base, 112 cm (44 inches) with the museum quality base.
This is an excellent two-armed deity, most likely representing Vishnu; without the attributes that he would have held in his hands it’s difficult to positively identify the deity. The sampot, worn low in front is depicted as being of heavier material, with the upper hem projecting from the body rather than following the contours of the hips. The arrangement of the pleated garment with tow frontal hanging panels closely follows tenth-century styles, but minor variations occur revealing its twelfth-century date such as the six ‘pockets’ pulled diagonally from the right thigh to the left. The fine carving of the sampot distinguishes this from lesser sculptures created in the provinces during this period; the sampot pleats are even and precise. A jeweled belt helps to secure the garment. Hanging down the center are two pleated panels of cloth, the shorter panel above the longer one. Both panels terminate in the bifurcated, splayed ‘fishtail’ (or ‘anchor’) motif.
The face, diadem and high chignon are exquisitely carved and show the skill of a master sculptor who may have created this fine sculpture for a royal family; this is a classic and very fine example of the Angkor Wat style.
I purchased this authentic Khmer sculpture around 1990 from an established antique dealer in Bangkok, Thailand and it has been in my possession since then.
At that time Bangkok was recognized as the center of the Khmer antiquities trade.
I was in charge of the international sales for a company in the 1980’s and 1990’s and I spent a great deal of time in Asia and got to know the owner of the antique store. He had a direct connection with military generals in Cambodia who had a warehouse full of original sculptures and sold them to the dealer when they needed to supplement their income. In the early 1990’s casino gambling became legal in Cambodia. The casinos allowed the generals to have an alternative secondary source of income that was better and more stable, which ended the supply to the antique dealer. A photo of the antique dealer's shop is attached.
A letter, like the one in the attached photos, will be included with the purchase.
This is a large and heavy sculpture and will be packed and crated to insure it is safely transported to its new home.