17th Oct, 2024 11:00
TWO-DAY AUCTION: Fine Asian Art, Buddhism and Hinduism
234
AN IMPORTANT AND LARGE SANDSTONE FIGURE OF VISHNU, PRE-ANGKOR PERIOD, PHNOM DA STYLE
Sold for €15,600
including Buyer's Premium
Ancient region of Funan, Mekong Delta, 6th-7th century. Superbly carved, the Preserver of the Universe standing in samabhanga on a rectangular base, the primary hands holding a lotus bud and mace, the raised secondary hands with the conch and chakra.
Dressed in a short sampot fastened at the waist by a thin belt, centered by a bulbous fold issuing two overlapping fishtail pleats. The face is carved with a serene expression, marked by almond-shaped eyes with neatly incised pupils, an aquiline nose, and full lips forming a gentle smile, flanked by elongated earlobes, the head surmounted by a tall cylindrical mitre.
Provenance: The collection of Rino Walter Marchi, Conegliano, Italy, according to family repute acquired in the 1970’s in London and imported to Italy in 1978. Collection of Leonardo Vigorelli, Bergamo, Italy, acquired from the Marchi family in 2016. Leonardo Vigorelli, a retired Italian art dealer and renowned collector, once specialized in African and ancient Hindu-Buddhist art. With a background in anthropology and decades of travel and field research across India, the Himalayas, Southeast Asia, and Africa, he founded the prestigious Dalton Somaré art gallery in Milan, now managed by his two sons.
Condition: Very good condition, commensurate with age. Wear, signs of weathering and erosion, encrustations, obvious losses, nicks, scratches, chips.
Dimensions: Height 153 cm (incl. base), 112 cm (excl. base)
Nearly all discovered stone sculptures in the Phnom Da style appear to be associated with Vishnu and his incarnations, as exemplified by this piece. The Phnom Da style is notably cohesive and consistent, exhibiting less variation compared to other stylistic periods. This uniformity suggests a focused artistic vision, reflecting a deep reverence for Vishnu and his realm, as well as a clear dedication to maintaining a specific aesthetic throughout the period.
Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related sandstone figure of Vishnu, Tuol Dai Buon, Pre-Angkor period, Phnom Da, 6th century, 192 cm tall, in the NMC, accession number Ka.1597, illustrated by Helen Ibbitson Jessup (ed.), Millennium of Glory: Sculpture of Angkor, Washington, 1997, p. 168.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s Paris, 20 November 2003, lot 407
Price: EUR 43,475 or approx. EUR 61,500 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A sandstone figure of Vishnu, pre-Angkor, Phom Da style, 7th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject, modeling, and manner of carving, with similar fishtail pleat to the sampot. Note the different size (43 cm).
Ancient region of Funan, Mekong Delta, 6th-7th century. Superbly carved, the Preserver of the Universe standing in samabhanga on a rectangular base, the primary hands holding a lotus bud and mace, the raised secondary hands with the conch and chakra.
Dressed in a short sampot fastened at the waist by a thin belt, centered by a bulbous fold issuing two overlapping fishtail pleats. The face is carved with a serene expression, marked by almond-shaped eyes with neatly incised pupils, an aquiline nose, and full lips forming a gentle smile, flanked by elongated earlobes, the head surmounted by a tall cylindrical mitre.
Provenance: The collection of Rino Walter Marchi, Conegliano, Italy, according to family repute acquired in the 1970’s in London and imported to Italy in 1978. Collection of Leonardo Vigorelli, Bergamo, Italy, acquired from the Marchi family in 2016. Leonardo Vigorelli, a retired Italian art dealer and renowned collector, once specialized in African and ancient Hindu-Buddhist art. With a background in anthropology and decades of travel and field research across India, the Himalayas, Southeast Asia, and Africa, he founded the prestigious Dalton Somaré art gallery in Milan, now managed by his two sons.
Condition: Very good condition, commensurate with age. Wear, signs of weathering and erosion, encrustations, obvious losses, nicks, scratches, chips.
Dimensions: Height 153 cm (incl. base), 112 cm (excl. base)
Nearly all discovered stone sculptures in the Phnom Da style appear to be associated with Vishnu and his incarnations, as exemplified by this piece. The Phnom Da style is notably cohesive and consistent, exhibiting less variation compared to other stylistic periods. This uniformity suggests a focused artistic vision, reflecting a deep reverence for Vishnu and his realm, as well as a clear dedication to maintaining a specific aesthetic throughout the period.
Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related sandstone figure of Vishnu, Tuol Dai Buon, Pre-Angkor period, Phnom Da, 6th century, 192 cm tall, in the NMC, accession number Ka.1597, illustrated by Helen Ibbitson Jessup (ed.), Millennium of Glory: Sculpture of Angkor, Washington, 1997, p. 168.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s Paris, 20 November 2003, lot 407
Price: EUR 43,475 or approx. EUR 61,500 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A sandstone figure of Vishnu, pre-Angkor, Phom Da style, 7th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject, modeling, and manner of carving, with similar fishtail pleat to the sampot. Note the different size (43 cm).
Zacke Live Online Bidding
Our online bidding platform makes it easier than ever to bid in our auctions! When you bid through our website, you can take advantage of our premium buyer's terms without incurring any additional online bidding surcharges.
To bid live online, you'll need to create an online account. Once your account is created and your identity is verified, you can register to bid in an auction up to 12 hours before the auction begins.
Intended Spend and Bid Limits
When you register to bid in an online auction, you will need to share your intended maximum spending budget for the auction. We will then review your intended spend and set a bid limit for you. Once you have pre-registered for a live online auction, you can see your intended spend and bid limit by going to 'Account Settings' and clicking on 'Live Bidding Registrations'.
Your bid limit will be the maximum amount you can bid during the auction. Your bid limit is for the hammer price and is not affected by the buyer’s premium and VAT. For example, if you have a bid limit of €1,000 and place two winning bids for €300 and €200, then you will only be able to bid €500 for the rest of the auction. If you try to place a bid that is higher than €500, you will not be able to do so.
Online Absentee and Telephone Bids
You can now leave absentee and telephone bids on our website!
Absentee Bidding
Once you've created an account and your identity is verified, you can leave your absentee bid directly on the lot page. We will contact you when your bids have been confirmed.
Telephone Bidding
Once you've created an account and your identity is verified, you can leave telephone bids online. We will contact you when your bids have been confirmed.
Classic Absentee and Telephone Bidding Form
You can still submit absentee and telephone bids by email or fax if you prefer. Simply fill out the Absentee Bidding/Telephone bidding form and return it to us by email at office@zacke.at or by fax at +43 (1) 532 04 52 20. You can download the PDF from our Upcoming Auctions page.
How-To Guides
How to Create Your Personal Zacke Account
How to Register to Bid on Zacke Live
How to Leave Absentee Bids Online
How to Leave Telephone Bids Online
中文版本的操作指南
创建新账号
注册Zacke Live在线直播竞拍（免平台费）
缺席投标和电话投标
Third-Party Bidding
We partner with best-in-class third-party partners to make it easy for you to bid online in the channel of your choice. Please note that if you bid with one of our third-party online partners, then there will be a live bidding surcharge on top of your final purchase price. You can find all of our fees here. Here's a full list of our third-party partners:
- 51 Bid Live
- EpaiLive
- ArtFoxLive
- Invaluable
- LiveAuctioneers
- the-saleroom
- lot-tissimo
- Drouot
Please note that we place different auctions on different platforms. For example, in general, we only place Chinese art auctions on 51 Bid Live.
Bidding in Person
You must register to bid in person and will be assigned a paddle at the auction. Please contact us at office@zacke.at or +43 (1) 532 04 52 for the latest local health and safety guidelines.
