A BRONZE BUST OF AN APSARA, both hands formerly in anjalimudra in front of the abdomen, well-modelled breasts, wearing petal-shaped girdle, armlets, three-stringed necklace with central medallion, elaborate crown with many feather-shaped finials, her face with ridged eyebrows, almond-shaped eyes, broad nose and lips, third eye, green patina and traces of black patina, Thailand or Cambodia, late 12th/13th Century

Details

A BRONZE BUST OF AN APSARA, both hands formerly in anjalimudra in front of the abdomen, well-modelled breasts, wearing petal-shaped girdle, armlets, three-stringed necklace with central medallion, elaborate crown with many feather-shaped finials, her face with ridged eyebrows, almond-shaped eyes, broad nose and lips, third eye, green patina and traces of black patina, Thailand or Cambodia, late 12th/13th Century
9.7 cm high (slight damages to the extremities), mounted

Lot Essay

Apsarases are symbols of beauty and celestial delights. Figures of apsarases adorn all parts of Khmer style temples which, in essence, are earthly replicas of heavenly palaces where the gods reside. They are also found upon utility objects as decorative motifs that underline the sacred or ceremonial nature of those items. Similar depictions of apsarases have been found on bronze rings which were probably designed to adorn the wooden bars of ceremonial palanquins or chariots (see Boisselier 1966: pl. 60 (2); Krairiksh 1982: cat. 25).

See illustration

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