Standing sandstone Shiva

Angkor period, Late 11th – early 12th century, Cambodia

Height: 85cm Width: 37cm. Height: 33.47inches Width: 14.57inches

Despite the missing hands and the absence of the third eye or crescent moon, the figure most probably represents Shiva, primarily because of the ascetic hairdo and multiple arms. His tiara is adorned with five bands of geometric and flora decoration and tied at the back into a knot with the ends shaped into fishtail patterns. The hair is platted into strings and raised up into a tall cylindrical chignon tied at the base with a garland of rudraksha beads. The deity’s face is subtly carved with a line of slightly arched brows, staring focused eyes, stylised moustache and full sensual lips. The body with incised beauty lines on the neck, the straight broad shoulders with slender arms above a slim torso the nipples on which are decorated with indented dots forming a circle. The figure wears a short sampot with pleated fishtail-shaped pendants at the front, the upper fishtail is shorter than the lower one, with a fan-shaped upper portion, and a series of wide, rhythmically layered pleats arranged on the left thigh, all held in place with a wide belt. The right leg is missing just above the knee; the left leg is missing above the ankle.

Similar Examples

‘Asian Art at the Norton Simon Museum Volume 3 –Art from Sri Lanka & Southeast Asia’, Pratapaditya Pal, Norton Simon Art Foundation 2004, figure 154, p.196