Clay? Buddha Bust

Not sure if clay or some other material. Hard to tell if old or recent decorative piece.
Any thoughts?
Thanks

 

Looks like a copy of an original stone sculpture, cast in a mold, using some sort of clay/concrete/resin composite. The seam on the center back may be evidence of the molding process.

 

Agree, quite obvious that it was molded.

 

Looks like a woman, not Buddha.

 

I am not confident in their attribution (in terms of material), but this appears to be another example/copy of the same figure:

https://auctions.milleabros.com/lots/view/1-52KWZ/antique-cambodian-stone-buddha

 

@Any Jewelry , do you have any thoughts on this?

The Cambodian Buddha statues posted on museum websites that I've found so far do not have breasts, and their headdresses look different. Of course, not everything in the world shows in google searches.

Here's one: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/39100

 

Thanks for the link. Can’t tell for sure from the pictures but to me it looks like their example also have mold seams.

 

Hi Kardinalisimo, I think what you have is probably someone's interpretation of a "female deity". I'm sure a Cambodian scholar will jump in at some point, but to me, it looks Khmer but with an amalgamation of people.
I searched through a couple of thousand images on the National Museum of Cambodia website and could not find anything resembling your item. I did find examples of female torsos with the very petite breasts yours has (which is typically Khmer), but nothing like the face.
However, your torso has striking facial similarities to two famous Khmer kings Jayavarman II (800AD) and Jayavarman VII (1180AD). JVII was a famous builder (Angkor Wat was one of his) and he was Hindu, and JVII was a Buddhist renowned for building hospitals, roads, roadside stops for pilgrims and improving the lives of his citizens. Both Kings are still hugely respected and revered.
I think your torso is a recent copy, (I think the nails in the base are a giveaway) and it's probably concrete (very popular in these types of Cambodian items). I think the auction example is made of a carved sandstone/resin material, also very common and I would be suspect of its "antique" labelling.
I do think your torso has huge appeal with lots of character and some wonderful weathering and chips. I love it. I hope this helps.

Images for comparison are: Female Deity bust, Female Deity head, JVII head, JVII head, JVVII head, JVVII head.

 

Thanks for the great info. Seems like the museum is selling replicas so maybe it was purchased from there. On other pieces they usually say the original vs smaller replicas dimensions but no info on this one:
Bust of Prajñaparamita

http://www.cambodiamuseum.info/en_information_visitors/29_replica.html

http://www.cambodiamuseum.info/en_information_visitors/

 

Thanks INH for your lovely Welcome Back. It's been a while as I settled into life in Thailand and extensive travels in Asia. I still read the Forum every day, just not a lot of time to respond. But this one caught my interest as I have just returned from 4 weeks in Cambodia before Covid19 really hit here. I guess that's why I have a bit more time now, with a 10pm-4am curfew in Thailand and all the usual social distancing, mask-wearing actions. I spent days walking through, under and over the Angkor temples and ruins with several visits to The National Museum and galleries. The visit was cut short, unfortunately, but glad I could help out with my views on the bust. I hope you and all Antiquers are safe and well. (Cited from: https://www.antiquers.com/threads/clay-buddha-bust.48639/)

 

@AuDragon
While on a Buddhist subject, what is your opinion on this piece?
https://www.antiquers.com/threads/what-is-this-hindu-piece.32743/#post-433688

 

@AuDragon ! You're back!
Welcome back to your virtual home, I've missed you! And probably tagged you umpteen times. And sent you a convo for your birthday.
And, and, well... I missed you.