A RARE AND LARGE SANDSTONE FIGURE OF VISHNU, BANTEAY SREI STYLE, ANGKOR PERIOD, 10TH CENTURY
A RARE AND LARGE SANDSTONE FIGURE OF VISHNU, BANTEAY SREI STYLE, ANGKOR PERIOD, 10TH CENTURY
This lot is from a single owner collection and is therefore offered without reserve
The Jorgen Ruben Gallery Ledger, entry from 2005:
“No. 334, LA 1971, A. Maynard, Khmer Banteay Srei Vishnu 10th c.”
Gallery price: EUR 135,000 or approx.
EUR 225,000 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.
Khmer Empire. Magnificently carved, standing firmly in samabhanga, clad in a knee-length sampot draped around the waist and secured with a knot, its fishtail folds falling gracefully at the front. The well-defined torso left exposed and marked by a subtly incised navel. The face exquisitely modeled in a benevolent expression with almond-shaped eyes beneath gently arched eyebrows, a prominent nose, and full lips forming a composed smile, accentuated by a subtle moustache, all flanked by long earlobes. The hair arranged in a columnar chignon, secured by an intricately decorated tiara.
Provenance: Adrian Maynard, London, by 1971. 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, expected traces of weathering and erosion, obvious losses, an old repair at the neck, few minor old fills, chips, scratches. The stone with a fine, naturally grown patina.
Weight: 50.8 kg
Dimensions: Height 111.3 cm (excl. stand), 119.2 cm (incl. stand)
With an associated metal stand. (2)
Banteay Srei is a tenth-century Cambodian temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. It was consecrated in 967 and is unique among the major monuments of Angkor in that it was not commissioned by a monarch, but by two court officials, Vishnukumara and Yajnavaraha. It is located near Phnom Dei, about twenty-five kilometers northeast of the main Angkor temple group, associated with the former capitals of Yasodharapura and Angkor Thom. The temple was originally known as Tribhuvanamaheshvara, meaning 'Great Lord of the Threefold World', referring to the Shaivite linga that served as its principal sacred image. Its modern name, Banteay Srei, is commonly translated as 'Citadel of Women' or 'Citadel of Beauty', in reference to the exceptional refinement of its sculpture. The treatment of the face, crown, and tall chignon of the present piece are, like many Banteay Srei style examples, very closely related to Koh Ker-Pre Rup sculpture of the tenth century.
Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related sandstone figure of Shiva, dated mid-10th century, 70.5 cm high, in the Walters Art Museum, accession number 25.229.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie's Amsterdam, 31 October 2000, lot 180
Price: NLG 76,063 or approx.
EUR 63,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A Khmer, Koh Ker style, sandstone figure of Vishnu, late 10th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling, manner of carving, and stone. Note the smaller size (77 cm).
Buyer's Premium
30%
A RARE AND LARGE SANDSTONE FIGURE OF VISHNU, BANTEAY SREI STYLE, ANGKOR PERIOD, 10TH CENTURY
This lot is from a single owner collection and is therefore offered without reserve
The Jorgen Ruben Gallery Ledger, entry from 2005:
“No. 334, LA 1971, A. Maynard, Khmer Banteay Srei Vishnu 10th c.”
Gallery price: EUR 135,000 or approx.
EUR 225,000 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.
Khmer Empire. Magnificently carved, standing firmly in samabhanga, clad in a knee-length sampot draped around the waist and secured with a knot, its fishtail folds falling gracefully at the front. The well-defined torso left exposed and marked by a subtly incised navel. The face exquisitely modeled in a benevolent expression with almond-shaped eyes beneath gently arched eyebrows, a prominent nose, and full lips forming a composed smile, accentuated by a subtle moustache, all flanked by long earlobes. The hair arranged in a columnar chignon, secured by an intricately decorated tiara.
Provenance: Adrian Maynard, London, by 1971. 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, expected traces of weathering and erosion, obvious losses, an old repair at the neck, few minor old fills, chips, scratches. The stone with a fine, naturally grown patina.
Weight: 50.8 kg
Dimensions: Height 111.3 cm (excl. stand), 119.2 cm (incl. stand)
With an associated metal stand. (2)
Banteay Srei is a tenth-century Cambodian temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. It was consecrated in 967 and is unique among the major monuments of Angkor in that it was not commissioned by a monarch, but by two court officials, Vishnukumara and Yajnavaraha. It is located near Phnom Dei, about twenty-five kilometers northeast of the main Angkor temple group, associated with the former capitals of Yasodharapura and Angkor Thom. The temple was originally known as Tribhuvanamaheshvara, meaning 'Great Lord of the Threefold World', referring to the Shaivite linga that served as its principal sacred image. Its modern name, Banteay Srei, is commonly translated as 'Citadel of Women' or 'Citadel of Beauty', in reference to the exceptional refinement of its sculpture. The treatment of the face, crown, and tall chignon of the present piece are, like many Banteay Srei style examples, very closely related to Koh Ker-Pre Rup sculpture of the tenth century.
Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related sandstone figure of Shiva, dated mid-10th century, 70.5 cm high, in the Walters Art Museum, accession number 25.229.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie's Amsterdam, 31 October 2000, lot 180
Price: NLG 76,063 or approx.
EUR 63,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A Khmer, Koh Ker style, sandstone figure of Vishnu, late 10th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling, manner of carving, and stone. Note the smaller size (77 cm).
Buyer's Premium
30%
