A RARE AND IMPORTANT SANDSTONE FIGURE OF HARIHARA, PRASAT ANDET STYLE, PRE-ANGKOR PERIOD, 7TH-8TH
A RARE AND IMPORTANT SANDSTONE FIGURE OF HARIHARA, PRASAT ANDET STYLE, PRE-ANGKOR PERIOD, 7TH-8TH CENTURY
This lot is from a single owner collection and is therefore offered without reserve
The Jorgen Ruben Gallery Ledger, entry from 2005:
“No. 336, LA 1972, A. Maynard, Pre-Khmer, Sambor Prei Kuk 7th c. Shiva [Harihara].”
Gallery price: EUR 268,000 or approx.
EUR 447,000 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing.
The ledger establishes that this object was located in Europe before the UNESCO 1970 Convention entered into force.
Ancient region of Funan, Mekong Delta, 6th-7th century. Superbly carved standing in samabhanga, holding a trident in his right hand, representing Vishnu (Hari), and a conch in his raised left hand, representing Shiva (Hara), while the lower left arm is supported on a mace. His powerful body and serene face are masterfully modeled, marked by the slender waist, strong chest, and broad shoulders as well as the almond-shaped eyes centered by the third eye above, with neatly incised lids and pupils, and full lips forming a subtle smile, flanked by long pendulous earlobes, and the hair arranged in a tall smooth kiritamakuta.
Provenance: Adrian Maynard, London, by 1972. 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.
Adrian Maynard joined Spink & Sons in 1947, where he was appointed Director from 1962 and eventually Deputy Chairman until his retirement in 1984. He was a man of enormous drive and undoubtedly the most flamboyant character to take charge of the Asian art department, which he took to the height of its success. Maynard believed firmly that "a dealer, whose fortune and good name depends on knowing what to buy, has a much greater responsibility to be right about the objects that come into his hands than, say, an academic, who never handles large sums of money.”
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: Overall good condition with expected wear, obvious losses and old repairs, chips, nicks, structural fissures, signs of weathering and erosion, encrustations. The stone with a fine, naturally grown patina.
Weight: 58.9 kg (incl. stand)
Dimensions: Height 99 cm (excl. stand), 111 cm (incl. stand)
With an associated stand. (2)
The supporting arch in the upper part of the sculpture connects the arms to the head. This feature reflects the careful craftsmanship and precautions taken by sculptors during the pre-Angkorian period.
Emerging from the syncretic tendencies within Brahmanic religion, the god Harihara gained significant importance during this period, offering devotees the dual protection of Vishnu and Shiva. This era was characterized by a variety of artistic styles, which often overlapped, reflecting the dynamic and diverse cultural influences of the time. In contrast to the later Angkorian period, where a more uniform artistic style prevailed, this period's diversity highlighted a rich tapestry of evolving aesthetic expressions.
Literature comparison:
Compare a related sandstone figure of Harihara, Kampong Preah style, dated 8th century, 98 cm high, in the National Museum of Cambodia, inventory number Ka.951. Compare a related sandstone figure of Harihara, Prasat Andet style, dated late 7th-early 8th century, 90.2 cm high, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, object number 1977.241.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie's Amsterdam, 31 October 2000, lot 181
Price: NLG 105,318 or approx.
EUR 87,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: An important pre Khmer, Prasat Anset style, sandstone figure of Vishnu
Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling and manner of carving with similar sampot, physique, and hairstyle. Note the size (87 cm).
Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie's Paris, 20 November 2003, lot 407
Price: EUR 43,475 or approx.
EUR 64,000 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A sandstone figure of Vishnu, pre-Angkor, Phom Da style, 7th century
Expert remark: Compare the related modeling and manner of carving. Note the much smaller size (43 cm).
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A RARE AND IMPORTANT SANDSTONE FIGURE OF HARIHARA, PRASAT ANDET STYLE, PRE-ANGKOR PERIOD, 7TH-8TH CENTURY
This lot is from a single owner collection and is therefore offered without reserve
The Jorgen Ruben Gallery Ledger, entry from 2005:
“No. 336, LA 1972, A. Maynard, Pre-Khmer, Sambor Prei Kuk 7th c. Shiva [Harihara].”
Gallery price: EUR 268,000 or approx.
EUR 447,000 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing.
The ledger establishes that this object was located in Europe before the UNESCO 1970 Convention entered into force.
Ancient region of Funan, Mekong Delta, 6th-7th century. Superbly carved standing in samabhanga, holding a trident in his right hand, representing Vishnu (Hari), and a conch in his raised left hand, representing Shiva (Hara), while the lower left arm is supported on a mace. His powerful body and serene face are masterfully modeled, marked by the slender waist, strong chest, and broad shoulders as well as the almond-shaped eyes centered by the third eye above, with neatly incised lids and pupils, and full lips forming a subtle smile, flanked by long pendulous earlobes, and the hair arranged in a tall smooth kiritamakuta.
Provenance: Adrian Maynard, London, by 1972. 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.
Adrian Maynard joined Spink & Sons in 1947, where he was appointed Director from 1962 and eventually Deputy Chairman until his retirement in 1984. He was a man of enormous drive and undoubtedly the most flamboyant character to take charge of the Asian art department, which he took to the height of its success. Maynard believed firmly that "a dealer, whose fortune and good name depends on knowing what to buy, has a much greater responsibility to be right about the objects that come into his hands than, say, an academic, who never handles large sums of money.”
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: Overall good condition with expected wear, obvious losses and old repairs, chips, nicks, structural fissures, signs of weathering and erosion, encrustations. The stone with a fine, naturally grown patina.
Weight: 58.9 kg (incl. stand)
Dimensions: Height 99 cm (excl. stand), 111 cm (incl. stand)
With an associated stand. (2)
The supporting arch in the upper part of the sculpture connects the arms to the head. This feature reflects the careful craftsmanship and precautions taken by sculptors during the pre-Angkorian period.
Emerging from the syncretic tendencies within Brahmanic religion, the god Harihara gained significant importance during this period, offering devotees the dual protection of Vishnu and Shiva. This era was characterized by a variety of artistic styles, which often overlapped, reflecting the dynamic and diverse cultural influences of the time. In contrast to the later Angkorian period, where a more uniform artistic style prevailed, this period's diversity highlighted a rich tapestry of evolving aesthetic expressions.
Literature comparison:
Compare a related sandstone figure of Harihara, Kampong Preah style, dated 8th century, 98 cm high, in the National Museum of Cambodia, inventory number Ka.951. Compare a related sandstone figure of Harihara, Prasat Andet style, dated late 7th-early 8th century, 90.2 cm high, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, object number 1977.241.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie's Amsterdam, 31 October 2000, lot 181
Price: NLG 105,318 or approx.
EUR 87,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: An important pre Khmer, Prasat Anset style, sandstone figure of Vishnu
Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling and manner of carving with similar sampot, physique, and hairstyle. Note the size (87 cm).
Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie's Paris, 20 November 2003, lot 407
Price: EUR 43,475 or approx.
EUR 64,000 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A sandstone figure of Vishnu, pre-Angkor, Phom Da style, 7th century
Expert remark: Compare the related modeling and manner of carving. Note the much smaller size (43 cm).
Buyer's Premium
30%
Sale price
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
