Jayavarman VII 53cm

£595 In stock

A wonderful carving of an image that is the essence of Angkor and the Khmer Empire. From a masterpiece of Khmer art now housed in the Phnom Penh Museum is the head of Jayavarman VII, found in Preah Khan at Kompong Svay. Our head carvings are faithful to the origina,l capturing the ‘god-king’ in his famous repose - known as ‘The Smile of Angkor’ - wearing no ornaments, meditating, yet radiating charismatic power.

Jayavarman VII is the most well known of all Khmer ‘god-kings’ and ruled from 1181 - 1219. The protagonist of the magnificent twilight of the Khmer Empire, and during his reign the empire reached the zenith of its glory. He undertook the construction of over a hundred hospitals, an enviable road network connecting the far reaches of the empire (at its largest during his reign), the building of Angkor Thom, The Bayon and Ta Phrom and many other temples. He fully introduced Buddhism which is why his features are also attributed to some images of Buddha.