Khmer Sandstone Torso Of Uma, Cambodia, Baphuon Angkor Period, 11th Century, 28.5 Cm

Khmer sandstone torso of Uma, Cambodia, Baphuon Angkor Period, 11th century

Sandstone, 28.5 cm high; including mount 34 cm

Provenance:
- Private collection, USA
- With dealer Adams Bryce Fine Art, San Diego, CA, 2005
- Since then private collection, The Netherlands

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This finely carved sandstone torso represents Uma, the consort of Shiva, embodying the idealized feminine beauty as conceived in Khmer art. The figure is depicted with a slender waist, gently rounded hips, and the long Sampot skirt characteristic of the Baphuon style—meticulously incised with vertical pleats and held in place by a belt richly adorned with pendants.

Although fragmentary, this torso conveys a powerful sense of grace and monumentality. The Baphuon style, named after the great temple-mountain at Angkor, is distinguished by its refined elegance, subtle modeling of the body, and elaborate treatment of textiles and jewelry. This work illustrates the extraordinary talent of Khmer sculptors in blending divine idealization with human naturalism. Figures of Uma were typically placed in temples dedicated to Shiva, underscoring her role as a mother goddess and the personification of fertility and prosperity. Despite the loss of the head and arms, this sculpture retains remarkable surface details and the harmonious proportions characteristic of this style.

Judging by the patina of the stone the arms were lost in ancient times, and the head in more recent times. Professionally mounted and in very good condition.

Shipping in Europe: EUR 25