Description AN EXCEPTIONAL AND RARE CHAM GOLD REPOUSSé LINGAM WITH SHIVA’S LOCKS OF HAIR
Champa, 10th-12th century. The lingam of cylindrical shape, with fine repoussé showing phallic markings and depicting Shiva’s locks of hair.
Provenance: Ex-Collection of The Zelnik István Southeast Asian Gold Museum. Institutional art collection in Belgium, acquired from the above.
Condition: Good condition with minor traces of age and wear, some minor bending, and soil encrustations.
Weight: 126.6 g
Dimensions: Height 11 cm, Diameter 10.7 cm
Published: The Zelnik Istvan Southeast Asian Gold Museum, page 168, Budapest 2013. This piece will also be featured in the upcoming book Gold and Silver Masterpieces from the Collection of Dr. Zelnik, to be published in 2021.
Alloy composition range: Gold 64-72 %, Silver 24-28 %, Copper 2-4 %.
Literature comparison: A similar gold lingam is published in Art of Champa, Arts of Southeast Asia, page 73, Issue 4, 2020.