18th Oct, 2024 11:00
TWO-DAY AUCTION: Fine Asian Art, Buddhism and Hinduism
682
A ROCK CRYSTAL LINGA AND BRONZE YONI, ANGKOR PERIOD
Sold for €3,380
including Buyer's Premium
Khmer empire, 12th-13th century. The linga is supported by the square stepped yoni terminating in a tapered spout and covered entirely in a rich, naturally grown patina with distinct malachite encrustation.
The finely cut linga is completely transparent with a flat base and a rounded top, the stone being of good clarity with scattered natural inclusions and fissures.
Provenance: The collection of The Zelnik István Southeast Asian Gold Museum. Institutional art collection in Belgium, acquired from the above. Dr. István Zelnik, President of the Hungarian South and Southeast Asian Research Institute, is a former high-ranking Hungarian diplomat who spent several decades in Southeast Asia, building the largest known private collection of Asian art in Europe.
Condition: Very good condition, commensurate with age. Extensive wear, signs of weathering and erosion, encrustations overall, small losses, casting flaws, and minor dents. It cannot be said with certainty that the Linga is original to the Yoni, but the crystal is ancient and fits perfectly well, and so it has a good chance to be.
Weight: 963 g
Dimensions: Height 14 cm
The lingam and yoni (or snanadroni) are aniconic representations of Shiva and Uma. They are symbolic of the female and male reproductive organs, which within Hinduism bring a balance to the cosmos when joined together. Within Hindu countries, adoration of the lingam was understood to be worship of the great generative principle of the universe, conceptualized as an aspect of Shiva. Some of the Khmer kings identified themselves with Shiva, placing a lingam at the summit of their most important temples as part of their royal paraphernalia.
Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related quartz linga and bronze-silver alloy snanadroni, dated to the Angkor period, in the National Museum in Phnom Penh, accession number Ga.3557. Compare a related Khmer stone linga with architectural base, 37.5 cm high, dated to the Angkor period, ca. 975, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 1988.393.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 23 March 1999, lot 222
Price: USD 9,200 or approx. EUR 15,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A quartz linga and gilt bronze yoni, Thailand, 15th century or earlier
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form. Note the gilding, separate cylindrical cover, and size (19.8 cm). Note the Thai attribution.
Khmer empire, 12th-13th century. The linga is supported by the square stepped yoni terminating in a tapered spout and covered entirely in a rich, naturally grown patina with distinct malachite encrustation.
The finely cut linga is completely transparent with a flat base and a rounded top, the stone being of good clarity with scattered natural inclusions and fissures.
Provenance: The collection of The Zelnik István Southeast Asian Gold Museum. Institutional art collection in Belgium, acquired from the above. Dr. István Zelnik, President of the Hungarian South and Southeast Asian Research Institute, is a former high-ranking Hungarian diplomat who spent several decades in Southeast Asia, building the largest known private collection of Asian art in Europe.
Condition: Very good condition, commensurate with age. Extensive wear, signs of weathering and erosion, encrustations overall, small losses, casting flaws, and minor dents. It cannot be said with certainty that the Linga is original to the Yoni, but the crystal is ancient and fits perfectly well, and so it has a good chance to be.
Weight: 963 g
Dimensions: Height 14 cm
The lingam and yoni (or snanadroni) are aniconic representations of Shiva and Uma. They are symbolic of the female and male reproductive organs, which within Hinduism bring a balance to the cosmos when joined together. Within Hindu countries, adoration of the lingam was understood to be worship of the great generative principle of the universe, conceptualized as an aspect of Shiva. Some of the Khmer kings identified themselves with Shiva, placing a lingam at the summit of their most important temples as part of their royal paraphernalia.
Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related quartz linga and bronze-silver alloy snanadroni, dated to the Angkor period, in the National Museum in Phnom Penh, accession number Ga.3557. Compare a related Khmer stone linga with architectural base, 37.5 cm high, dated to the Angkor period, ca. 975, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 1988.393.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 23 March 1999, lot 222
Price: USD 9,200 or approx. EUR 15,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A quartz linga and gilt bronze yoni, Thailand, 15th century or earlier
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form. Note the gilding, separate cylindrical cover, and size (19.8 cm). Note the Thai attribution.
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