Khmer Empire, 11^th century. Standing in samabhanga, her young unadorned body with prominent breasts and her belly beautifully rounded, wearing a long, pleated sarong tied at the front, the long central fold elegantly culminating in a 'fishtail' shape at the hem, secured by a belt with beaded festoons.

Provenance: Funan Selected Works of Art, Singapore, 27 September 1983. From the collection of the late Michael Sherrard CBE, QC, acquired from the above and thence by descent. A copy of the original invoice from Funan Selected Works of Art, addressed to Michael Sherrard, dated 27 September 1983, confirming the dating above, and stating a purchase price of USD 15,000 or approx. EUR 43,500 (converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing), accompanies this lot. Michael Sherrard (1928-2012) was an English barrister in fraud and company law who was considered one of the great recent influences on the legal profession. He was involved in numerous high-profile cases in both English and East Asian courts, particularly Hong Kong and Singapore. Together with Linda Goldman, he wrote a memoir titled “Wigs and Wherefores: A Biography of Michael Sherrard QC”. Sherrard was an enthusiastic collector of Chinese art, especially jade carvings.
Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age, expected weathering, wear and losses, minor nicks, few structural cracks. Some signs of erosion. Fine naturally grown patina overall.

Weight: 3,885 g (excl. stand)
Dimensions: Height 34.5 cm (excl. stand) and 40 cm (incl. stand)

Fitted to an associated metal stand.(2)

This piece exemplifies the style of Baphuon female figures with the frontal stance, the ovoid skirt wide at the hips and narrowing around the knees, the sarong in an elevated position at the back and curving down to below the navel and the elegant central pleat. According to Boisselier, the highly decorative style of Banteay Srei inspired the development of Baphuon period sculpture, a manner which became more embellished with decorative elements as it reached a zenith during the Angkor Wat period a century later, see Helen Ibbitson Jessup and Thierry Zephir, editors, Sculpture of Angkor and Ancient Cambodia - Millennium of Glory, Washington 1997, page 255.

The modeling of the torso, the curled end of the sarong above the belt and a long central fold certainly recalls Banteay Srei sculpture, see Emma C. Bunker and Douglas Latchford, Adoration and Glory, The Golden Age of Khmer Art, Chicago, 2004, page 175, fig. 8.6.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby’s Paris, 10 June 2021, lot 236
Price: EUR 18,900 or approx. EUR 20,500 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A grey sandstone torso of a female divinity, Khmer art, Baphuon style, circa 11^th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related pleated sampot with similar fishtail hem. Note the size (47 cm).

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 23 March 2010, lot 274
Price: USD 37,500 or approx. EUR 50,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A sandstone torso of Uma, Khmer, Angkor period, Baphuon style, 11^th century
Expert remark: Compare the related belt with similar beaded festoons. Note that the figure was originally of larger size but is overall smaller than the present lot (28 cm).

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 21 March 2007, lot 279
Price: USD 31,200 or approx. EUR 43,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A small sandstone torso of a goddess, Khmer, Angkor period, Baphuon style, 11^th century
Expert remark: Note the related size (35.5 cm) and that the sampot is not pleated as in the present lot.