A SANDSTONE GUARDIAN FIGURE DEPICTING GARUDA, KOH KER STYLE Khmer Empire, 10^th century. Finely carved kneeling atop a square base with one knee raised, his right hand holding a vajra and his left resting on his thigh, wearing a tight-fitting dhoti which is neatly incised with a diapered feather-like design, his wings at the back are also finely incised. The face well detailed with large bulging eyes, thick brows, and a prominent beak, flanked by elongated lobes with large earrings, the head surmounted by an elaborate foliate crown.

Provenance: From a distinguished Italian private collection, acquired between the late 1960s and early 1970s. Leonardo Vigorelli, Bergamo, acquired from the above. Leonardo Vigorelli is a retired Italian art dealer and noted collector, specializing in African and ancient Hindu-Buddhist art. After studying anthropology and decades of travel as well as extensive field research in India, the Himalayan region, Southeast Asia, and Africa, he founded the Dalton Somaré art gallery in Milan, Italy, which today is being run by his two sons.
Condition: Excellent condition, commensurate with age. Extensive wear, small losses, minor nicks and surface scratches, signs of weathering and erosion, structural cracks, encrustations. Fine, natural patina overall.

Dimensions: Height 65.3 cm

Guardian figures such as the present lot were placed aside of gateways, steps, and entrances of sacred areas like temples.

Koh Ker, which lies 50 miles (80 km) northeast of Angkor, was the capital of the Khmer Empire from 928-944. Koh Ker's sculptural style is thus distinct from those developed in Angkor's immediate vicinity. The stone sculpture, often monumental in size, is imbued with a heightened sense of movement and a suppleness of form. The Koh Ker rulers adhered to the Hindu religion, especially the Shaiva sect.

Garuda is a half-bird, half-human creature that appears in both Hinduism and Buddhism. In Hinduism, Garuda is the mount of the god Vishnu and the sworn enemy of the Naga serpent. As a symbol of supremacy, this bird-king demonstrates the harmony between power and grace, creating a magical figure of strength and heroism.

Literature comparison: Compare a related Koh Ker sandstone figure Garuda, 216.5 cm high, in the collection of the National Museum of Cambodia, inventory number Ka.1737. Compare a closely related Koh Ker sandstone head of Garuda, 16 cm high, in the National Museum of Cambodia, inventory number Ka.3053.