Exceptional and very rare piece!
 
Magnificent bronze representing Shiva or Sadashiva from the Bayon period, 12th - 13th century, Khmer, Cambodia.
 
In a very good state of preservation considering its age.
 
Shiva, a principal god of Hinduism, is the creator and destroyer who gives fertility to all living creatures. He has both aspects of peace and violence, destroying evil and protecting the good. This standing image of Shiva wearing many jewels, several objects (stick, lotus,..) and dressed in royal clothes, is the perfect representation of the bronzes of the Bayon period.
 
He has five faces and four outstretched arms. The looks are penetrating and intense.
The five faces are thought to represent earth, water, fire, wind and sky, or to represent violence (south face), motherhood (north face), joy (west face) and benevolence (face on top of the head), and their union (east face).

Sadashiva, a name specially given to Shiva with five faces and (probably) 4 or 10 arms. Sadashiva was introduced from India to the Khmer kingdom in the ninth century during the reign of Jayavarman II.

Height 20 cm (26,5 cm with base)
 
Good condition