Southeast Asia, Cambodia, Khmer, ca. 10th to 13th century CE. A splendid bronze figure of Uma (Parvati), goddess of beauty and love as well as consort of Shiva, standing in the balanced samabhanga position with limbs evenly distributed along a central line - a typical depiction of Uma in the Khmer period during which she was associated with regal stability. Her sampot is suspended from a charm-embellished belt and a central sash that tapers off in a fishtail shape, while multiple necklaces, armlets, earrings adorn her bare-chested body. Crowned by a tiered headdress, she holds an attribute in each hand, one of which is possibly a lotus flower. Note how the strong columnar form of her sampot is contrasted by pinched waist and broad hips, helping to emphasize her femininity and fertility. Uma was a favored goddess in Khmer Angkor, and while sandstone representations of the goddess abound, bronze devotional figures of Uma, like this one, are considerably rarer. Size: 1.5" W x 4.6" H (3.8 cm x 11.7 cm); 6.5" H (16.5 cm) on included custom stand.

The goddess Parvati, also known as Uma, daughter of the mountains, is traditionally understood as the consort of Shiva and is usually presented as a beautiful woman without any superfluous limbs, as we see in this example. When she finally attracted Shiva, after a long and physically grueling courtship, he shared with her the secrets of the world, a conversation that would lead to the dispersal of this elite knowledge amongst the wise. At first Parvati, like most female deities (shakti), was viewed as a minor deity. However, between the 5th and 13th centuries, Parvati became a subject of worship in her own right rather than a mere consort to a male deity, with temples erected in her honor. It was at this time that Parvati became a major deity known as Durga and Kali.

Provenance: private Lumberton, Texas, USA collection, acquired before 2010

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#183548

Losses to implements in hands. Light bending to base and age-expected surface wear as shown, but otherwise mostly intact and excellent with rich patina throughout and great preservation of detail. Permanently adhered to stand.