Four-Faced and Six-Armed Brahma – Southeast Asian Temple Bronze (17th–19th Century)
A finely crafted Southeast Asian temple bronze of Brahma with four faces and six arms, cast in solid bronze and retaining traces of original fire gilding. The sculpture shows clear hand-worked detailing, natural cuprit and tenorite oxidation, and the distinctive wear patterns of an older ritual object. A rare and expressive piece of pre-modern craftsmanship.
Estimated value: €3.250
This Southeast Asian bronze of Brahma was examined with museum-grade analytical methods, including UV inspection and microscopic surface review. The sculpture shows authentic fire-gilding remains, deep cuprite and tenorite oxidation, and mineral deposits consistent with long-term natural ageing. Hand-carved wax modelling is visible in the irregular incision lines and toolmarks, confirming pre-modern craftsmanship rather than modern reproduction.
Material: Bronze with original fire-gilding
Technique: Traditional lost-wax casting, hollow interior with mineralised residues
Size: H 29.5 × W 16 cm
Period: 17th–19th century
Region: Southeast Asia (Cambodia / Siam sphere)
Condition: Naturally aged patina, stable structure, intact iconographic features
Four-Faced and Six-Armed Brahma – Southeast Asian Temple Bronze (17th–19th Century)
Description
This four-faced, six-armed Brahma represents a refined form of Southeast Asian temple art, created in solid bronze and finished with traditional fire gilding. The sculpture sits on an elevated base and displays carefully executed hand-tooling: individually carved feather-motifs, irregular incision lines, and subtle “overcuts” that confirm manual wax modelling rather than later reproduction techniques.
The surface carries the natural traces of age found on authentic pre-modern bronzes. In the recessed areas, remnants of the gold layer are still visible, while the exposed high points show the gradual abrasion of centuries of handling. Deep red cuprit, dark tenorite and layered mineral deposits are present across the surface, producing the complex patina structure typically associated with 17th–19th century Southeast Asian bronzes.
The figure’s four faces and six arms symbolise omniscience and creative power within Brahmanical iconography. Despite its compact size, the piece has remarkable weight (4.8 kg) and presence, characteristic of earlier, high-quality lost-wax casting. All arms, attributes and facial features are intact and sharply defined.
This sculpture is not a modern workshop casting. The microstructure, gilding residues, corrosion profile and internal casting characteristics demonstrate that it is a genuine, older temple bronze — expressive, well-made, and increasingly scarce on today’s market.
Dimensions: H 29.5 cm × W 16 cm
Weight: 4.8 kg
Material: Fire-gilded bronze
Region: Southeast Asia (Khmer / Siam / Laos influence)
Period: 17th–19th century
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Four-Faced and Six-Armed Brahma – Southeast Asian Temple Bronze (17th–19th Century)
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