The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of March 26, 2023

Head of a Follower of Shiva

900s

Cambodia, Angkor, 10th century

Sandstone

Overall: 25 x 18 x 16 cm (9 13/16 x 7 1/16 x 6 5/16 in.); Block: 13 x 14 x 12 cm (5 1/8 x 5 1/2 x 4 3/4 in.)

Gift of Dr. Norman Zaworski in honor of Dr. Stanislaw Czuma 2012.294

Location

244 Indian and Southeast Asian

Fun Fact

The third eye on the forehead is a symbol of enlightenment.

Description

Khmer patrons and artists produced works of art that could depict either a deified king or a god who has royal attributes. The Khmer cult of the god-king allowed for such fluidity of interpretation. Presence of a third eye in the forehead and matted locks of hair are attributes both of the Hindu god Shiva and the followers who emulated him in order to get closer to him.

Provenance
by 1975
George P. Bickford [1901–1991], Cleveland, OH
?–2012
Dr. Norman Zaworski [1920–2013], Cleveland, OH, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art
2012–
The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
Citations
Lee, Sherman E. Ancient Cambodian Sculpture. New York: Asia Society; distributed by New York Graphic Society, 1969. Mentined and Reproduced: fig. 24, p. 62 and pp. 105–106
Czuma, Stanislaw J. Indian Art from the George P. Bickford Collection: Catalog. Cleveland: Cleveland Museum of Art, 1975. Mentioned and Reproduced: cat. no. 38
“Art of Asia Acquired by North American Museums, 2011-2012.” Archives of Asian Art, vol. 63, no. 2, 2013, pp. 215–276. Reproduced: fig. 13, p. 225
Exhibition history

Indian Art from the George P. Bickford Collection. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (January 14-February 16, 1975).

Source URL: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2012.294