An antique Khmer style stone sculpture of Jayavarman VII. Lacking any royal or divine attributes, this King Jayavarman VII statue represents a simple, spiritual man. As is traditional, his hair is pulled back and tied in a small bun like chignon. His facial expression is accentuated by semi-closed eyes, a slight smile, large forehead, lips that are neither thin nor thick, and long ear lobes. All of these traits represent the Khmer physiognomy. The king's power as expressed by his facial expression evokes supreme knowledge, compassion and peacefulness. 
King Jayavarman VII was responsible for the construction of numerous temples in the Angkor region and in other provinces. King Jayavarman VII was further championed as the greatest king of Angkor for liberating and unifying the country. His legacy lives on today as many of the structures remaining today within Angkor Wat were built during his reign. At the center of Angkor Thom is the Bayon Temple, famous for its distinct 50 towers, each bearing the large faces of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshavara on all four sides. These faces are thought to be copied from the actual face of King Jayavarman VII, whose smiles are so gentle that it is often referred to as the Khmer smile. This great king was a devout Buddhist of the Mahayana sect.
The carving of this piece is beautiful as you can see in the fine details of the face. Each detail is rendered perfectly. The distinctive patina of the piece is also particularly delightful. 
The head is mounted on a wood base. 

Provenance:

Medium: Stone

Dimensions: 42cm / 17”

General Condition: Good condition.

SCST293


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