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Published & Exhibited: The Zelnik Istvan Southeast Asian Gold Museum, Budapest, 2013, p. 173.
Scientific Analysis Report: The present lot was examined and tested by Dr. Peter Northover of BegbrokeNano Oxford Materials Characterization Service, senior research fellow at the Department of Materials, University of Oxford. In his report, Dr. Northover concludes that “[…] this head is ancient and authentic.” Furthermore, a particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) analysis of the gold gave an alloy of 81.1% gold, 17.9% silver, and 0.7% copper, and an electron probe microanalysis with wavelength dispersive spectrometry (EPMA) of the silver sample gave an alloy of silver with 1.5% copper, 0.02% bismuth, 0.06% lead, and 0.55% gold. A copy of the report written and signed by Dr. Peter Northover, No. R4651/61, dated 12 November 2013, accompanies this lot.
Expert Opinion: Jean-Fran?ois Hubert indicates that the head exhibits several features of the My Son E1 style, such as the carefully drawn moustache and the plump lips. He points out that the earrings and collar are additions that may have been made with ritual purpose. He dates the present Shiva head to around the 9th century.
Vietnam, former kingdoms of Champa, c. 9th century. Superbly modeled as a head displaying the classic iconography of Shiva, the deity showing a calm expression with almond-shaped eyes, one uninterrupted bow-shaped eyebrow below the third eye which is inlaid with a ruby, above a broad nose, elegantly curled mustache, and thick lips forming a subtle smile, framed by long earlobes and neatly incised braided locks of hair piled up into a natural crown (jatamukuta). The topknot and back of the head are of a silver alloy, whereas the rest of the sculpture is of a gold alloy.
Provenance: The collection of The Zelnik István Southeast Asian Gold Museum. An important private collection, acquired from the above. Dr. István Zelnik, President of the Hungarian South and Southeast Asian Research Institute, is a former high-ranking Hungarian diplomat who spent several decades in Southeast Asia, building the largest known private collection of Asian art in Europe.
Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age. Old wear, small nicks, light scratches, few dents, minor losses, old repairs, some inlays renewed, encrustations, areas of corrosion, traces of soldering. Jean-Fran?ois Hubert points out that the earrings and collar are additions that may have been made with cultural purpose.
Hungarian Export License: Mutargykisero igazolas, reference number MHO/53/13(2017), dated 26 June 2017, has been granted. A copy accompanies this lot.
Weight: 127.9 g (incl. collar and earrings)
Dimensions: Height 15.6 cm
This head was set with small loops above the ears for mounting and adding stability. This indicates that the head was originally riveted to a metal or stone linga. The gem inlays are associated with specific directions: east and south in the case of the ruby, west for the topaz, north for the diamond, and the sapphire is attributed to both south-east and north-east. The choice of the stone symbolized the King’s protection.
The ears suspending separately worked gold earrings inlaid with gemstones, and the neck decorated with a detachable gold repoussé collar inlaid with rubies, garnet, and glass.
Jean-Fran?ois Hubert is a leading authority and senior expert on Vietnamese art currently working as a senior consultant for Christie’s. He has curated exhibitions for the Musée Royal de Mariemont, Indonésie, Archipel des Dieux, and L'Ame du Vietnam. In addition, he authored several books including Arts de Vietnam (2002) and L’Art du Champa (2005).
Peter Northover is a metallurgist and senior research fellow at the Department of Materials, University of Oxford, and the Oxford Materials Characterisation Service. He specializes in the characterization of metalwork from archaeological, cultural, and industrial heritage with extensive experience of over 30 years in the authentication of metal antiquities and antiques, and has authored several publications on ancient alloys.
Expert dossier: For a detailed commentary by Cham art expert Jean-Fran?ois Hubert and Oxford University senior research fellow Peter Northover on the present lot, elaborating on Champa culture, gold in Southeast Asia, and the authentication of ancient metal artifacts, please request a PDF copy of this academic and scientific document from the department.
Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related Cham gold and silver repoussé head of Shiva, dated late 9th-10th century, 17.1 cm tall, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 1996.239. Note the back of this head is also of silver alloy, like the present lot.
Market result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Exhibition: Spink, London, 13 October 1997, no. 23
Price: USD 400,000 or approx. EUR 710,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: Head of Siva, Vietnam, Cham period, 10th century AD
Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject, modeling, repoussé work, and inlays. Note the different size (21 cm).
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