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| Male Figure |
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| Cambodia; Angkor period (802-2431), Baphuon style, third quarter 11th century |
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| Sandstone |
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| H. 41 1/2 in. (105.4 cm) |
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| Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection of Asian Art |
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| 1979.066 |
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| The sculptor of this intriguing image devoted much time in carving the detailed garments: the vertical pleats of the short skirtlike garment (sampot) are elegant and more numerous than those found in earlier Cambodian sculptures, and delicate eight-petaled flowers are incised into the excess folds on the left thigh. Jeweled pendants hang from the low-slung belt, which has fine patterns that seem to represent metal rather than cloth. It is impossible to tell whether this male figure was a temple guardian or commemorated a royal figure. Both royalty and guardians wore such belts and a definitive identification would depend on the placement of the figure in a temple, which is unknown. |
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