A SANDSTONE HEAD OF SHIVA, CHAM PERIOD Vietnam, 10^th century. The serene face with almond-shaped eyes, elegantly curved brows, a broad nose, and full lips. The finely incised hair is pulled up into a topknot decorated with a floral emblem.

Provenance: From an old French private collection.
Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age. Extensive wear, losses, minor nicks and scratches, signs of weathering and erosion.

Weight: 5,680 g (incl. base)
Dimensions: Height 24 cm (excl. base) and 31.5 cm (incl. base)

Mounted on an old associated wood base. (2)

Cham art is an absolute pillar of Vietnamese culture. In its glorious days, the ensemble of Champa territories used to run from the North of Quang Binh all the way to the edge of the Saigon region, showcasing the most outstanding sculptures and architectural jewels. Rediscovered by French scholars, what was once a great civilization managed to survive centuries of vicissitudes, abandonment, and wars. In its origin, Cham art demonstrates how an Austronesian population, probably from Borneo in the 4th century, chose to adopt and integrate Indian ideology deeply into its local customs, successfully creating a whole statuary art, as imposing as its competitor from Khmer.

Auction result comparison: Compare a related stone head of a deity, 45 cm high, dated 11^th-12^th century, at Christie’s Hong Kong, 29 May 2016, lot 335, sold for HKD 150,000.