Antique Bayon Style Mounted Stone Stele Vishnu Statue - 42cm/17"

Antique Bayon Style Inscribed Stone Stele Vishnu Statue - 42cm/17"

Bayon-Style Relief with Inscriptions to the Front and Reverse

Measures - (Height) 42cm/17"

An evocative antique Khmer-style stone stele combining a standing relief of Vishnu with multiple lines of finely incised inscription on both faces. Loosely mounted on a later wooden base, the piece brings together devotional imagery, decorative carving, and the visual character of Cambodia’s inscribed stone tradition.

The stele has a gently lobed upper edge with a small central point, creating a restrained architectural silhouette. On the front, Vishnu stands in a balanced, frontal posture, his four arms arranged around a compact torso. He wears a short patterned sampot and a broad headdress, while the lower border is enriched with repeating arched, petal-like ornament and stepped mouldings.

The relief has a simplified, direct character. Its broad facial treatment and formal presentation recall the Bayon sculptural tradition.

Lines of inscription extend across the front around the deity and continue on the reverse. Their subtle incisions contrast with the more pronounced modelling of the figure, rewarding close viewing. The stone’s warm brown-grey surface, softened contours, and visible edge losses give the composition a textured appearance.

Presented upright, the stele offers a distinctive focal point for a collection of Khmer-inspired sculpture, Hindu devotional imagery, or inscribed stone objects.

Stone dimensions, including locating tenon: Approximately 40 × 20 × 5 cm

Stone height excluding locating tenon: Approximately 33 cm

Vishnu: Preserver and Protector

Vishnu is one of Hinduism’s principal deities, revered as the preserver of the universe and guardian of cosmic order. His four-armed form allows several divine attributes to appear together, expressing his capacity to protect, sustain, and restore balance.

Here, the raised hands appear to hold a discus and conch, while a lowered hand rests beside a long mace. This combination strongly supports the Vishnu identification: comparable Southeast Asian images use the same attributes to distinguish the deity. The small object in the remaining lower hand is less clearly defined and should not be named with certainty.

The relief’s upright stance reinforces this protective character, presenting Vishnu as composed and steadfast rather than engaged in battle.

The Inscribed Stele

A stele is an upright slab bearing text, imagery, or both. In the Khmer world, stone inscriptions could record religious dedications, donations, foundations, land, and obligations connected with sacred institutions. Sanskrit and Khmer were both used, sometimes within the same monument.

Key Features

• Antique Khmer-style inscribed stone stele with a Vishnu relief.

• Supplied stylistic comparison: Bayon manner, recalling 13th-century sculpture.

• Overall mounted height approximately 42 cm / 17 inches.

• Stone approximately 40 × 20 × 5 cm, including its locating tenon.

• Stone height approximately 33 cm excluding the locating tenon.

• Four-armed Vishnu standing in a balanced frontal pose.

• Attributes consistent with a discus, conch, and mace.

• Patterned short sampot and broad headdress.

• Multiple lines of inscription on the front and reverse.
  

• Gently lobed upper edge with a central point.

• Decorative lower register with repeating arched motifs and stepped mouldings.

• Warm brown-grey stone with visible surface wear and edge losses.

• Loosely mounted on a later wooden display base.

• Supplied provenance: Ex-private US collection.

• All items are guaranteed to be as described.

• Certificate of Authenticity available on request.

Frequently Asked Questions

What identifies the figure as Vishnu?

The four arms and the combination of a discus, conch, and long mace strongly support the identification. These are established attributes of Vishnu in Southeast Asian sculpture. 1475

What does “Bayon style” mean here?

It describes the relief’s artistic affinities, particularly its broad facial treatment, formal stance, and simplified Khmer costume. It does not establish that the stele came from the Bayon temple or was carved during a particular king’s reign.

Is the inscription Sanskrit?

That is the supplied identification, but it has not been confirmed through a specialist reading. Khmer inscriptions can contain Sanskrit, Khmer, or both, so script and language should be distinguished. 1480

What does the inscription say?

No verified translation accompanies the information provided. It would be inappropriate to assign a specific dedication, ruler, donor, or religious text without an epigraphic assessment.

Does the stele carry a date?

No date has been identified. Because the text has not been formally translated here, the listing should say “no date currently identified” rather than “undated” as an established conclusion.

Why is it inscribed on both sides?

Using both faces provides additional space for text. Historic Khmer inscriptions could extend across several surfaces, but the relationship between the front and reverse texts on this particular piece remains to be established by translation.                                                                                                                              

What is the projecting section beneath the stone?

The lower projection is a locating tenon, referred to as a “locator” in the supplied description. It fits into the display arrangement and is included in the stone’s 40 cm height. Without it, the visible stele measures approximately 33 cm high.

Is the wooden base original?

No. It is a later display base, and the stone is loosely mounted. The slab should therefore be supported independently when moved; lifting the base alone may not securely carry the stone.

What provenance accompanies the piece?

The supplied provenance is an ex-private US collection. This records its stated collection history but does not identify an original temple or excavation site. Any supporting ownership or export documentation should be retained with the stele.

What will the Certificate of Authenticity confirm?

The certificate should record the seller’s description, attribution, and known provenance. Unless expressly supported by a specialist report, it should not imply that the inscription has been translated or that a precise historical date has been independently established.

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