Siam / Thailand – Kingdom of Rattanakosin A copper alloy

Spectacular and monumental bronze figurehead ornament depicting Garuḍa surrounded by fantastical creatures of the gajasimha/reachisey type, Siam, Kingdom of Rattanakosin, late 19th – early 20th century, circa 1880–1920. This important work in copper alloy constitutes a particularly impressive example of late Rattanakosin Siamese historicism, when artists consciously reinterpreted ancient models drawn notably from Khmer Angkor art and the Bayon. The composition is dominated by the large winged figure of Garuḍa, whose broadly spread wings structure the whole. On either side appear six fantastical heads mixing leonine, elephantine and aquatic features, belonging to the vocabularies of the gajasimha/reachisey, creatures related to the khmer makara tradition. In the center is occupied by a large medallion housing a crowned divine figure accompanied by secondary figures. Three celestial figures, cast separately and assembled, dominate the composition, while an elephant motif completes the lower register. The function of the object is particularly interesting. Its large frontal surface, its essentially functional back, its relatively shallow depth compared to its height and its lower fixing system correspond to a grand ornament or prow fleur-de-lis intended for a ceremonial or prestige vessel. This type of decoration finds prototypes in the ancient Khmer naval tradition and has continued significantly in the Siamese world and Thailand’s royal barges. The work should not, however, be confused with a medieval Angkorian production: its “Bayon style” is here a stylistic and iconographic reference, while its manufacture is attributed to the late Rattanakosin period, probably around 1880–1920. Condition: good overall given its age, its dimensions and the extreme complexity of the openwork decoration. There are minor aged wear, oxidation and brown-ochre patinas with green to blue-green zones, small dings and occasional losses at the extremities of the ornament, visible cracks on the reverse, as well as old fillings, consolidations and traces of welding. These interventions are part of the material history of the object. The composition remains remarkably complete and highly legible. The current metallic base is modern. Provenance: former private Belgian collection; piece probably acquired in the 1970s–1980s, then passed down. Provenance documented by a letter dated 2024. Dimensions without base: 102 × 74 × 13 cm. Height with base: 103.4 cm. Weight: 50.5 kg, base included. The piece is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and attribution detailing, based on the examination of the work, its documented provenance and extensive comparative and bibliographic documentation dedicated to bronzes, royal barges and Khmer and Siamese iconography. Through its monumental presence, exceptional richness of decoration and rarity of its function, this work constitutes a remarkable decorative and ceremonial element of Siam in the late 19th – early 20th century. video link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/zz4q5rczam1k7q8lzgeyj/APG6fgj58Xw5M6vwtJRRbq8?rlkey=o80xnj6ai6j4sv52k4041zafo&dl=0

Estimate:$15,697.87

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