A LARGE SANDSTONE FIGURE OF VISHNU, ANGKOR PERIOD, ANGKOR WAT STYLE, 12TH CENTURY
A LARGE SANDSTONE FIGURE OF VISHNU, ANGKOR PERIOD, ANGKOR WAT STYLE, 12TH CENTURY
This lot is from a single owner collection and is therefore offered without reserve
The Jorgen Ruben Gallery Ledger, entry from 2005:
“No. 322, LA, Sunde 1975, Khmer Angkor Wat torso of Vishnu 12th c.”
Gallery price: EUR 38,000 or approx.
EUR 63,500 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing.
Khmer Empire. Superbly carved, depicted standing firmly in samabhanga, clad in a long sampot wrapped around the hips, with a double fishtail-shaped fold cascading toward the front. The finely articulated torso flanked by four arms, the secondary pair raised, each holding attributes of the deity, while one of these is adorned with a distinctive beaded armlet.
Provenance: Laurits Sunde, Denmark, by 1975. Collection of Leo Albrecht, Denmark, acquired from the above. Jorgen Ruben, acquired from the above before 2005. In the Jorgen Ruben Collection for at least 21 years.
Laurits "Lau" Sunde (1910-1979) was an important Danish collector and dealer who played a pioneering role in introducing African art to Denmark and the wider Nordic region. He is particularly remembered for his interest in Yoruba art and culture, especially ere ibeji twin figures, which he promoted not only as works of art but also as expressions of the spiritual and ritual traditions of the Yoruba people.
Leo Albrecht was a German-born publisher and literary agent who established himself in Copenhagen after the Second World War. In 1951 he founded his agency, which played an important role in expanding the international market for Scandinavian literature. He began collecting art in the late 1950s, with a particular focus on Asian sculpture. In Copenhagen, he spent much of his time visiting antique dealers, museums, and exhibitions. He developed especially close ties with Ole Haslund, Lau Sunde, and Freddy Hansen, among the most prominent dealers in their fields. He also traveled frequently to London, where he became close friends with Adrian Maynard. Jorgen Ruben first met Albrecht in 1984, and they quickly became close friends. Ruben later described him as a gentleman and “the greatest collector of Asian art in Denmark.” He acquired Albrecht's entire Asian sculpture collection when Albrecht moved back to Germany after selling his publishing company. The two remained close, with Albrecht continuing to visit Denmark each summer and staying at the Ruben family's beach house north of Copenhagen.
Jorgen Ruben is a Danish art dealer and collector who has been active for over four decades and is highly regarded in the fields of Asian art and classical antiquities. Raised in an art-conscious family, Ruben was exposed early to both modern painting and European decorative arts. He began working in the art trade in the mid-1970s, first with Persian rugs and later with antiques, while travels to Iran and a visit to Persepolis sparked his lasting interest in antiquity. After studies in Copenhagen and London, he worked in England with a dealer in early furniture, before travelling widely in Latin America and Asia, deepening his knowledge of regional art and culture. In 1984 Ruben opened a gallery in Copenhagen dealing in Asian antiquities. He was later active in London and, in the early 2000s, operated the Brussels gallery Classic Art. Much of his career, however, has been conducted privately from home, selling by appointment to collectors, galleries, and museums. Ruben has always bought selectively, choosing only works that deeply engaged him, and often keeping them for many years until placing them with a collector he felt truly understood them.
Important Note: For essential information on the
Jorgen Ruben Gallery Ledger and provenance documentation please visit here: www.zacke.at/rubencollection_ledger
Condition: Good condition with old wear, traces of weathering and erosion, obvious losses, old repairs to secondary arms, few smoothed chips, scattered scratches. The stone with a fine, naturally grown patina.
Dimensions: Height 82.8 cm (excl. stand), 94.9 cm (incl. stand)
With an associated modern stand. (2)
Angkor Wat, erected by King Suryavarman II (r. 1113 - circa 1150), the great ruler of the Khmer empire, was built both as the royal temple complex dedicated to the Hindu deity Vishnu and as the ruler's personal mausoleum. The magnitude of this building program underscored the intention of the King to establish his authority and strength as a leader. By linking himself directly to Vishnu, the deity associated with restoring cosmic order, he legitimized his spiritual and worldly power. This is captured aesthetically in the sturdy figural proportions and powerfully frontal images created during his time, evident here in this present sculpture of Vishnu.
The style of Angkor Wat seen here harks back to the earlier styles of the Koh Ker and Pre Rup traditions of the tenth century, rather than the preceding style of the Baphuon period. Lerner states that for a “ruler concerned with martial campaigns and responsible for such a gigantic personal monument as Angkor Wat, the Baphuon figural style may have appeared too consciously unheroic and sensuous.” (see Martin Lerner, Ancient Khmer Sculpture, New York, 1994, p. 46). Instead, rather than soft contours, each element has weight, as evidenced for example by the thick sampot.
Literature comparison:
Compare a related sandstone figure of Vishnu, Cambodia, Angkor period, 12th century, in the Tokyo National Museum, collection reference no. TC-382.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie's New York, 25 March 2004, lot 163
Price: USD 45,410 or approx.
EUR 70,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A sandstone torso of a four-armed deity, Khmer, Angkor period, Angkor Wat style, second half 12th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling, manner of carving, stone, and size (78.7 cm).
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Bonhams Melbourne, 4 November 2020, lot 82
Price: AUD 28,060 or approx.
EUR 21,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A grey sandstone torso of a deity, Khmer, Angkor period, 12th/13th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling, manner of carving, and stone. Note the
smaller size
(57.5 cm).
Buyer's Premium
30%
A LARGE SANDSTONE FIGURE OF VISHNU, ANGKOR PERIOD, ANGKOR WAT STYLE, 12TH CENTURY
This lot is from a single owner collection and is therefore offered without reserve
The Jorgen Ruben Gallery Ledger, entry from 2005:
“No. 322, LA, Sunde 1975, Khmer Angkor Wat torso of Vishnu 12th c.”
Gallery price: EUR 38,000 or approx.
EUR 63,500 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing.
Khmer Empire. Superbly carved, depicted standing firmly in samabhanga, clad in a long sampot wrapped around the hips, with a double fishtail-shaped fold cascading toward the front. The finely articulated torso flanked by four arms, the secondary pair raised, each holding attributes of the deity, while one of these is adorned with a distinctive beaded armlet.
Provenance: Laurits Sunde, Denmark, by 1975. Collection of Leo Albrecht, Denmark, acquired from the above. Jorgen Ruben, acquired from the above before 2005. In the Jorgen Ruben Collection for at least 21 years.
Laurits "Lau" Sunde (1910-1979) was an important Danish collector and dealer who played a pioneering role in introducing African art to Denmark and the wider Nordic region. He is particularly remembered for his interest in Yoruba art and culture, especially ere ibeji twin figures, which he promoted not only as works of art but also as expressions of the spiritual and ritual traditions of the Yoruba people.
Leo Albrecht was a German-born publisher and literary agent who established himself in Copenhagen after the Second World War. In 1951 he founded his agency, which played an important role in expanding the international market for Scandinavian literature. He began collecting art in the late 1950s, with a particular focus on Asian sculpture. In Copenhagen, he spent much of his time visiting antique dealers, museums, and exhibitions. He developed especially close ties with Ole Haslund, Lau Sunde, and Freddy Hansen, among the most prominent dealers in their fields. He also traveled frequently to London, where he became close friends with Adrian Maynard. Jorgen Ruben first met Albrecht in 1984, and they quickly became close friends. Ruben later described him as a gentleman and “the greatest collector of Asian art in Denmark.” He acquired Albrecht's entire Asian sculpture collection when Albrecht moved back to Germany after selling his publishing company. The two remained close, with Albrecht continuing to visit Denmark each summer and staying at the Ruben family's beach house north of Copenhagen.
Jorgen Ruben is a Danish art dealer and collector who has been active for over four decades and is highly regarded in the fields of Asian art and classical antiquities. Raised in an art-conscious family, Ruben was exposed early to both modern painting and European decorative arts. He began working in the art trade in the mid-1970s, first with Persian rugs and later with antiques, while travels to Iran and a visit to Persepolis sparked his lasting interest in antiquity. After studies in Copenhagen and London, he worked in England with a dealer in early furniture, before travelling widely in Latin America and Asia, deepening his knowledge of regional art and culture. In 1984 Ruben opened a gallery in Copenhagen dealing in Asian antiquities. He was later active in London and, in the early 2000s, operated the Brussels gallery Classic Art. Much of his career, however, has been conducted privately from home, selling by appointment to collectors, galleries, and museums. Ruben has always bought selectively, choosing only works that deeply engaged him, and often keeping them for many years until placing them with a collector he felt truly understood them.
Important Note: For essential information on the
Jorgen Ruben Gallery Ledger and provenance documentation please visit here: www.zacke.at/rubencollection_ledger
Condition: Good condition with old wear, traces of weathering and erosion, obvious losses, old repairs to secondary arms, few smoothed chips, scattered scratches. The stone with a fine, naturally grown patina.
Dimensions: Height 82.8 cm (excl. stand), 94.9 cm (incl. stand)
With an associated modern stand. (2)
Angkor Wat, erected by King Suryavarman II (r. 1113 - circa 1150), the great ruler of the Khmer empire, was built both as the royal temple complex dedicated to the Hindu deity Vishnu and as the ruler's personal mausoleum. The magnitude of this building program underscored the intention of the King to establish his authority and strength as a leader. By linking himself directly to Vishnu, the deity associated with restoring cosmic order, he legitimized his spiritual and worldly power. This is captured aesthetically in the sturdy figural proportions and powerfully frontal images created during his time, evident here in this present sculpture of Vishnu.
The style of Angkor Wat seen here harks back to the earlier styles of the Koh Ker and Pre Rup traditions of the tenth century, rather than the preceding style of the Baphuon period. Lerner states that for a “ruler concerned with martial campaigns and responsible for such a gigantic personal monument as Angkor Wat, the Baphuon figural style may have appeared too consciously unheroic and sensuous.” (see Martin Lerner, Ancient Khmer Sculpture, New York, 1994, p. 46). Instead, rather than soft contours, each element has weight, as evidenced for example by the thick sampot.
Literature comparison:
Compare a related sandstone figure of Vishnu, Cambodia, Angkor period, 12th century, in the Tokyo National Museum, collection reference no. TC-382.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie's New York, 25 March 2004, lot 163
Price: USD 45,410 or approx.
EUR 70,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A sandstone torso of a four-armed deity, Khmer, Angkor period, Angkor Wat style, second half 12th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling, manner of carving, stone, and size (78.7 cm).
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Bonhams Melbourne, 4 November 2020, lot 82
Price: AUD 28,060 or approx.
EUR 21,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A grey sandstone torso of a deity, Khmer, Angkor period, 12th/13th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling, manner of carving, and stone. Note the
smaller size
(57.5 cm).
Buyer's Premium
30%
