Harihara Bakheng 35cm

• 

£299 In stock

A beautiful head-carving of a 10th century example in the Bakheng style that is now in the Guimet Museum, Paris.

Harihara is a divine being incorporating Shiva and Vishnu and was redesigned by the Khmer in a brilliant independent style. Shiva is shown on the right-hand side, identified by the halved third eye and the crescent moon in his chignon. Vishnu n the left-hand side wearing the four-tiered, octagonal, pagoda-shaped crown which replaced the mukuta (mitre) from the 9th century. The crown and diadem, tied with a lace at the back of the neck, were fundamental symbols of royalty.