Cambodia / late 1000s
Royal Female Figure
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Royal Female Figure as sculpture (Cambodia · late 1000s).
This royal female figure's eyebrows and pupils were originally inlaid with silver or semiprecious stones.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this sculpture as partially gilt bronze and silver.
The museum's collection notes: The identity of this figure is uncertain, since the objects she held are missing, and no other related sculptures have been located. Since she has only two arms and wears a crown, she is probably a royal woman. Semiprecious stones or metals, such as onyx or silver, would have been inlaid into her eyes and eyebrows, further enlivening her image. The gilded adornments are set off against her dark shining skin to dazzling effect. Most Cambodian stone sculptures have lost their gold jewelry, so this figure gives an accurate impression of how many would have looked when installed in their sanctuaries.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtRoyal Female FigureOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.