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Bakheng style (893-925)


Before the items from the Angkor Conservation were transferred to the Royal Palace, the Phnom Penh Museum did not own any example of female deity from the Bakheng style.


Figure19. Body of female deity
Unknown origin. Property of the Conservation d’Angkor
H: 115 cm
Ka. 2985 DCA:3338

In spite of its badly poor condition, this piece is interesting as an example of Bakheng style art.

The style of the sampot worn by the goddess is called ‘sampot bat’, folded sampot. It is tied with a belt adorned with rosettes and pendants and the triangle fold from the Preah Ko style has disappeared; the fold at the front spreads from one hip to the other.

In must be noted that from this style onwards, all the deities wear pleated sampots.
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