Country Group: South and Southeast Asia (Thailand, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam)

Item id: 10756

This exceptionally rare Cambodian glass figure dates to the 10th or 11th century and represents a multi-armed Tantric deity of remarkable antiquity and presence. Objects of this type are extraordinarily scarce; in over twenty years of close study and collecting, only a handful of comparable examples have been encountered. The figure is rendered in a compact yet complex composition, with multiple arms arranged around a central standing form, framed by a stylized arched surround that enhances its ritual character.

What makes this piece particularly distinctive is the nature of the glass itself. The material appears to incorporate metal within the glass mixture, resulting in a surface that has aged in a manner more akin to bronze or stone than to typical glass. This has produced a subtle patina and surface encrustation that reinforces the object’s great age and gives it an almost metallic depth and gravitas. The softened details and surface wear are entirely consistent with an early Khmer-period date and long burial or ritual history.

Despite its very small scale, the figure carries an intense presence and strong Tantric symbolism. Mounted on a custom stand for secure display, it stands as a highly important and unusual survivor from early Cambodian spiritual practice. This is a museum-level object, ideally suited for advanced collectors of Khmer art, Tantric imagery, or rare ancient materials.

The figure measures approximately 1.5 inches in height, 1 inch in width, and 0.375 inches in depth, and is presented on a custom display base.