In reviewing the sales of Khmer antiquities by the world’s leading auctioneers, ••• See comments Edit post Thursday, April 20, 2023

Khmer Art Overseas: In reviewing the sales of Khmer antiquities by the world’s leading auctioneers, Christie’s, this unusual sculpture caught my attention and immediately raised suspicions. I’ve not seen such a figure before, and as it fetched far less than expected at auction, that might indicate the questions marks over its authenticity were shared by the buyers. It was sold for USD 6,875, considerably less than its projected USD 20,000 estimate, in March 2015, as part of a large collection of artifacts belonging to American art connoisseur, Robert Hatfield Ellsworth. His vast array of over 1,400 pieces raised USD 130 million. This red sandstone figure was described as a kneeling attendant from the Banteay Srei art style of the tenth century and had been in the Ellsworth collection since 1974. As indicated, I’ve not seen a comparable artwork and I cannot find anything similar in the EFEO photographic library. However, the Banteay Srei temple itself threw up a number of unusual artifacts, so a kneeling figure holding a tray-like box above his head, may’ve been produced by the stone sculptors of the day, though I have serious doubts. The statue is of a Rishi - these extremely wise elderly bearded figures, often termed as a sage, hermit, ascetic or seer, were said to be enlightened and have special powers. They even composed hymns on the basis of the great truth and knowledge they possessed. Perhaps the box contained his sacred scripts or song sheets. Our sage is kneeling on his left knee, on a decorated base, wearing a short pleated sampot with a front fold. His only decoration are two pendant earrings, while his braided hair is pulled up into a conical chignon. His full lips appear to offer a smile and are surrounded by his drooping well-trimmed beard. However, to my untrained eye, his body proportions don’t look right, especially his two arms, which appear awkward and ungainly. I’ve also posted a second Rishi figure for comparison, from the National Museum in Phnom Penh, which is believed to have been found at the Ak Yom temple, and is from the late 9th century. Note that he is in a praying position and his knees held in place by a strap aiding him to maintain this most auspicious posture for lengthy periods.https://www.facebook.com/andy.brouwer.71

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EDIT ARTICLE ---------------------------------------- Khmer Art Overseas: In reviewing the sales of Khmer antiquities by the world’s leading auctioneers, Christie’s, this unusual sculpture caught my attention and immediately raised suspicions. I’ve not seen such a figure before, and as it fetched far less than expected at auction, that might indicate the questions marks over its authenticity were shared by the buyers. It was sold for USD 6,875, considerably less than its projected USD 20,000 estimate, in March 2015, as part of a large collection of artifacts belonging to American art connoisseur, Robert Hatfield Ellsworth. His vast array of over 1,400 pieces raised USD 130 million. This red sandstone figure was described as a kneeling attendant from the Banteay Srei art style of the tenth century and had been in the Ellsworth collection since 1974. As indicated, I’ve not seen a comparable artwork and I cannot find anything similar in the EFEO photographic library. However, the Banteay Srei temple itself threw up a number of unusual artifacts, so a kneeling figure holding a tray-like box above his head, may’ve been produced by the stone sculptors of the day, though I have serious doubts. The statue is of a Rishi - these extremely wise elderly bearded figures, often termed as a sage, hermit, ascetic or seer, were said to be enlightened and have special powers. They even composed hymns on the basis of the great truth and knowledge they possessed. Perhaps the box contained his sacred scripts or song sheets. Our sage is kneeling on his left knee, on a decorated base, wearing a short pleated sampot with a front fold. His only decoration are two pendant earrings, while his braided hair is pulled up into a conical chignon. His full lips appear to offer a smile and are surrounded by his drooping well-trimmed beard. However, to my untrained eye, his body proportions don’t look right, especially his two arms, which appear awkward and ungainly. I’ve also posted a second Rishi figure for comparison, from the National Museum in Phnom Penh, which is believed to have been found at the Ak Yom temple, and is from the late 9th century. Note that he is in a praying position and his knees held in place by a strap aiding him to maintain this most auspicious posture for lengthy periods.https://www.facebook.com/andy.brouwer.71<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPL5C0ZcSIB-NPZu-Aw6SUMGrpqZZmR-M2p46halzrhnP-O7J9VT6ZO4WNrF5iMO9jVLmJ8JHNQV3PJScFtDz2f1UST2TUGLyigVrIZgkpc065VyhiCM6OPV61G8brM4Z57h9kAyzhJymWiOiIf8aPYnmHsWv-IhpGH0jU7A0CazGgiflZOSZgLU39w/s1600/332496754_662155969247161_3732794159548284730_n.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="738" data-original-width="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPL5C0ZcSIB-NPZu-Aw6SUMGrpqZZmR-M2p46halzrhnP-O7J9VT6ZO4WNrF5iMO9jVLmJ8JHNQV3PJScFtDz2f1UST2TUGLyigVrIZgkpc065VyhiCM6OPV61G8brM4Z57h9kAyzhJymWiOiIf8aPYnmHsWv-IhpGH0jU7A0CazGgiflZOSZgLU39w/s1600/332496754_662155969247161_3732794159548284730_n.jpg"/></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfOw8wkmdFaPRNt543Pi0t1pc3xLrWgh5EQs1tryS_aoOzRSW3FcQhCIiO-9qqG9uDrlqGG0VicMMWTLEdTvgz6nYQf-SWtKbICfzRuI96gDafua7uRwilEsh52NNkVj7SYOaav4nTOrwhJFdn6Y4tnhBxigRivibKI6kkjdrknj9M4E8G6w3ApdKfiQ/s1600/332511988_1231722940799302_4039178545295601277_n.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="1050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfOw8wkmdFaPRNt543Pi0t1pc3xLrWgh5EQs1tryS_aoOzRSW3FcQhCIiO-9qqG9uDrlqGG0VicMMWTLEdTvgz6nYQf-SWtKbICfzRuI96gDafua7uRwilEsh52NNkVj7SYOaav4nTOrwhJFdn6Y4tnhBxigRivibKI6kkjdrknj9M4E8G6w3ApdKfiQ/s1600/332511988_1231722940799302_4039178545295601277_n.jpg"/></a></div> ARE NOT

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