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Royal Female Figure
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
The identity of this figure is uncertain, since the objects she held are missing, and no other related sculptures have been located. Since she has only two arms and wears a crown, she is probably a royal woman. Semiprecious stones or metals, such as onyx or silver, would have been inlaid into her eyes and eyebrows, further enlivening her image. The gilded adornments are set off against her dark shining skin to dazzling effect. Most Cambodian stone sculptures have lost their gold jewelry, so this figure gives an accurate impression of how many would have looked when installed in their sanctuaries.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit lineRoyal Female Figure, late 1000s. Cambodia. Partially gilt bronze and silver; overall: 35.5 cm (14 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund, 1982.51