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2. Khmer koh Ker Period Stone Head Cambodia 10th c. sandstone 15 inches |
Adorned with a diadem tied on the backside, strands of twisted hair arranged in vertical lines form the Jatamukuta encircled at the base by a band of large pearls, a specific Khmer characteristic not found earlier in the art of other southeast asian cultures. The face has open eyes with incised pupils, eyebrows represented by a continuous line and rimmed lips. The absence of a beard and moustache suggests that this is a female deity. some of the best Khmer sculpture ever produced was created during the Koh Ker period, not to be equaled again in concept and grandeur. The choice of subject matter must reflect the personal taste of Jayavarman IV, since the whole capital and its extraordinarily rich sculptural program were designed and created in less than twenty years. Detail: eyes Detail: back |