Centuries ago, a brilliant civilization flourished in the valleys and plains of what is now Cambodia. The Khmer culture created a remarkable artistic legacy, boldly  More »

Centuries ago, a brilliant civilization flourished in the valleys and plains of what is now Cambodia. The Khmer culture created a remarkable artistic legacy, boldly expressive in form yet delicate in its sensibility. The most famous Khmer monument is the vast temple complex at Angkor Wat, but works in bronze are equally remarkable in their power. Khmer art depicting armies on the march shows images of elephants carrying the king or nobility into battle. Bells such as this hung from the elephant's saddle, ringing as the animal moved. Massive, yet elegant in their simplicity, these bells may well have adorned a royal elephant. Even silent, they suggest timeless power and privilege. - (FZ.248)   « Less

Centuries ago, a brilliant civilization flourished in the valleys and plains of what is now Cambodia. The Khmer culture created a remarkable artistic legacy, boldly  More »

Centuries ago, a brilliant civilization flourished in the valleys and plains of what is now Cambodia. The Khmer culture created a remarkable artistic legacy, boldly expressive in form yet delicate in its sensibility. The most famous Khmer monument is the vast temple complex at Angkor Wat, but works in bronze are equally remarkable in their power. This exquisite ritual bell was created to be rung during ceremonies. Its weight and beauty suggests it is the product of a royal workshop. Though the clapper is now missing, when we shake it we can easily imagine its rich tones ringing out across the ancient capital of Khmer. Graceful and powerful at once, it evokes the wealth and splendor of a vanished world. - (FZ.249)   « Less

Centuries ago, a brilliant civilization flourished in the valleys and plains of what is now Cambodia. The Khmer culture created a remarkable artistic legacy, boldly  More »

Centuries ago, a brilliant civilization flourished in the valleys and plains of what is now Cambodia. The Khmer culture created a remarkable artistic legacy, boldly expressive in form yet delicate in its sensibility. The most famous Khmer monument is the vast temple complex at Angkor Wat, but works in bronze are equally remarkable in their power. Created in imitation of a seashell, this ornate bronze conch may have served as a ceremonial dipper, holding holy water used during ritual ceremonies. However, judging from the refinement of the mouthpiece, it is more likely that this conch was once a wind instrument that produced the sacred sound inherent in all things, “om.” The sound would have been produced in the chamber formed by a separately inserted crosspiece. Regardless of its function, this conch skillfully combines natural forms with elaborate decoration. The pedestal base on which it rests is adorned with images of Nagas, water deities also known as guardians of treasure. Graceful and powerful at once, this lovely conch is a treasure from a lost civilization. - (FZ.250)   « Less

The Buddhist religion spread rapidly throughout the far east and nowhere is the artistic rendering of this dynamic religion more expressive than in the 12th to 13th century  More »

The Buddhist religion spread rapidly throughout the far east and nowhere is the artistic rendering of this dynamic religion more expressive than in the 12th to 13th century Kmer culture of Cambodia. Here, all religious art forms acquired an extraordinary quality of craftsmanship and spirit that was highly appropriate for its exalted subject matter. We see a portion of that extraordinary artistry in this Khmer culture bronze thunderbolt, or vajra. This powerful image is the destroying, but in itself indestructible, emblem of Buddhist deities. Rendered with a potent mixture of bold lines and intricate detail, this bronze thunderbolt displays an unearthly forcefulness that befits its ancient symbolic nature. As we experience this dramatic work of art, we feel a keen respect, not only for the religious ideology that is expressed here, but also for the Khmer craftsman who created such a communicative piece of bronze artwork. - (FZ.251)   « Less

Centuries ago, a brilliant civilization flourished in the valleys and plains of what is now Cambodia. The Khmer culture created a remarkable artistic legacy, boldly  More »

Centuries ago, a brilliant civilization flourished in the valleys and plains of what is now Cambodia. The Khmer culture created a remarkable artistic legacy, boldly expressive in form yet delicate in its sensibility. The most famous Khmer monument is the vast temple complex at Angkor Wat, but works in bronze are equally remarkable for their power. The intrinsic beauty of this palanquin collar almost makes us forget that it originally served a practical function. A palanquin is a covered traveling litter used by oriental nobility. A collar like this was the central ornament of the carrying pole and supported the draped covering. Only the highest classes were permitted palanquin fittings of bronze, and this stunning piece, shimmering with gilt overlay, was no doubt worthy of royalty. Graceful and powerful at once, it evokes the wealth and splendor of a vanished world. - (FZ.252)   « Less

The ideal "wife", or female "energy", of a god in Hindu religion is described as being "half the man", and has female strength that complements his power. In this instance  More »

The ideal "wife", or female "energy", of a god in Hindu religion is described as being "half the man", and has female strength that complements his power. In this instance the representation of Parvati, the consort of Shiva, as Durga the Powerful, is no exception. Durga fights many a heroic battle for Siva in the Puranic legends and her portrayal as a mighty female warrior is one of the most dynamic depictions in Hindu art. Here the bronze Durga stands poised for battle, holding in her four arms the weapons lent her by Siva for the epic struggle. Her feminine body is adorned with a headdress, necklace and bracelets and a richly detailed belt. The triumphant goddess has an assertive energy while at the same time suggests a feminine softness, entirely appropriate to the conception of this complex deity. The Kmer culture of Cambodia produced works of art, such as this Bronze Hindu deity, that demonstrate a boldness of form that at the same time appears delicate and sensuous. A dichotomy of emotive elements in this masterpiece touches the complexities of our own inner being. - (FZ.291)   « Less

Buddhist works of art such as this beautiful bronze seated, meditating Buddha often have symbolic elements that relate to the very early stages in the development of this  More »

Buddhist works of art such as this beautiful bronze seated, meditating Buddha often have symbolic elements that relate to the very early stages in the development of this highly complex religion. Elements of nature were an integral part of the early religions of India, and the roots of Buddhism formed an alliance with these ancient popular cults of the soil and nature, accepting among other things, their nature spirits. In this example, a bronze Buddha sits on the artistically rendered body of a Naga, the ancient Indian spirit of water that takes the form of a serpentine cobra. The head of the snake forms a dramatic nimbus around the upper portion of the Buddha, individual serpentine heads framing the Buddha’s expressive face. The Buddhist religion spread throughout the Far East and nowhere is the artistic rendering of this spiritual religion more expressive than in the art of the 12th to 13th century Khmer culture of Cambodia. This bronze Buddha illustrates the unique artistic tradition; the image boldly expressive in form yet delicate in its sensibility. Graceful and powerful at once, the combined images of Buddha and Naga capture both the aesthetic and spiritual elements of our very soul. - (FZ.294)   « Less

The goddess Uma, also known as Parvati, daughter of the mountains, was the consort of Shiva. When she finally attracted Shiva, after a long and physically grueling courtship,  More »

The goddess Uma, also known as Parvati, daughter of the mountains, was the consort of Shiva. When she finally attracted Shiva, after a long and physically grueling courtship, she shared with her the secrets of the world, a conversation that would lead to the dispersal of this elite knowledge amongst the wise. Shiva’s exploits were represented on the relief carvings of Angkor Wat, the center of the Khmer dynasty and the largest religious monument in the world. Thus, Uma was a favored goddess of Khmer artists for her important stature in the Hindu hierarchy. This extraordinary bronze sculpture depicts the goddess standing straight, holding a rolled up scroll in her left hand and the stem of a fragmented plant in her right. She is adorned by an elaborate floral diadem and necklace of pedal-shaped pendants. The intricate carving of her conical coiffure imitates the form of a lotus bulb. Her ears droop down to her shoulders from the weight of her ear ornaments. She wears two bands high up on her arms, both decorated with rosettes in the center, and two heavy anklets just above her feet. Her voluptuous torso is exposed while a long, pleated sarong covers her lower body, supported by a belt decorated by suspended leaf-shaped pendants and two central rosettes. A slight over-fold wraps around her waist and a central sash falls in two layers between her legs, tapering off in a curving fishtail shape. The sensuous form of the goddess recalls a timeless beauty. Her sumptuous jewelry further attests to this elegance. It is clear from this sculpture why Shiva, the destroyer and recreator of the universe, chose to love this woman. - (FZ.384)   « Less

Vishnu, one of the principal Hindu deities, is worshiped as the protector and preserver of the world and restorer of dharma (moral order). Vishnu, like Shiva (the other major  More »

Vishnu, one of the principal Hindu deities, is worshiped as the protector and preserver of the world and restorer of dharma (moral order). Vishnu, like Shiva (the other major god of Hinduism), is a syncretic personality who combines many lesser cult figures and local heroes. He is known chiefly through his avatars (incarnations), particularly Rama and Krishna. Temple images of Vishnu depict him either sitting, standing holding various implements, or reclining on the coils of the serpent Naga. The standing Vishnu is traditionally dressed in royal garments and holds in his four hands the shankha (conch), cakra (discus), gada (club), or padma (lotus).The Khmer civilization, today embodied by the temples and ruins of Angkor, one of mankind's most astonishing and enduring architectural achievements and the largest religious monument in the world, flourished from 802-1431 A.D. From the great citadel of Angkor, the kings of the Khmer empire ruled over a vast domain that reached from what is now southern Vietnam to Yunan, China and from Vietnam westward to the Bay of Bengal. The original city was built around the Phnom Bakeng, a temple on a hill symbolizing the mountain that stands in the center of the world according to Hindu cosmology. Successive kings enlarged the city, building other temples devoted to various Hindu deities and large reservoirs used for irrigation, which also symbolized the ocean surrounding the holy central mountain. The greatest of the Ângkôr temple complexes is Angkor Wat, constructed under King Suryavarman II (reigned 1113-1150) to celebrate the king as the incarnation of the god Vishnu.The artistic glory of the Khmer civilization is perfectly preserved in this sculpture of Vishnu. Stylistically, the idealized forms of the figure are characteristic of Angkor. The smooth polish of the surface, the hourglass-shape of the torso, and the facial structure of this statue are typically Khmer. The floral diadem tied into a knot at the back of his head and the pleated sarong with overhanging fabric carved in the shape of a fishtale are also both indicative of Khmer sculpture of this period. The idealization of the figure is the direct result of his divine nature as well as his indirect association with the king. Gazing upon this masterpiece, we are in the presence of not only a god and a king, but also a relic of one of history’s great civilizations. Like all great art, this sculpture memorializes an entire culture and era, not just a specific ruler. The art and architecture of the Khmer is one of the greatest achievements of mankind. Basking in the glory of this sculpture is reveling in the beauty of life and creation itself. It’s no wonder that early legends surrounding Angkor, before it was properly excavated and documented, purported it to be a city created by the gods when they still resided on earth. Somehow this sculpture of Vishnu seems like a divine self-portrait. - (PF.5790)   « Less

Buddhist works of art such as this beautiful bronze Buddha often have symbolic elements that relate to the very early stages in the development of this highly complex  More »

Buddhist works of art such as this beautiful bronze Buddha often have symbolic elements that relate to the very early stages in the development of this highly complex religion. Elements of nature were an integral part of the early religions of India. The roots of Buddhism formed an alliance with these ancient popular cults of the soil and nature, including nature- spirits. In this example, the bronze Buddha sits on the artistically shaped body of a Naga, the ancient Indian spirit of water that takes the form of a cobra. The head of the snake forms a dramatic nimbus around the upper portion of the Buddha, individual serpent heads frame the Buddha's expressive face. The Buddhist religion spread throughout the east and nowhere is the artistic rendering of this spiritual religion more expressive than in the 12th and 13th century Khmer culture of Cambodia. This bronze Buddha illustrates the unique artistic craftsmanship and boldly expressive form, yet is delicate in its sensibility. Graceful and powerful at once, the combined images of Buddha and Naga capture both the aesthetic and spiritual elements of our very soul. - (FZ.292)   « Less