Cleveland Museum of Art

Royal Female Figure

Date

late 1000s

Medium

partially gilt bronze and silver

Culture

Cambodia

Department

Indian and Southeast Asian Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

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. This royal female figure's eyebrows and pupils were originally inlaid with silver or semiprecious stones.

The authoritative record is held by Cleveland Museum of Art. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.