Ancient Khmer Tripod Stand with Garuda & Vishnu

This elaborate cast bronze tripod stand or trivet, which retains traces of gilding suggesting that originally, it was entirely gilded, dates to the 11th-13th century Cambodia. It was acquired by the last owner in Sydney, Australia in 1976 (documentation is available).

It has been cast with three feet decorated with large Garuda figures. Garuda’s wings stretch to the legs and nestled between each wing is a figure of Vishnu, who rides Garuda, Garuda being his vahana or celestial vehicle.

The upper section of the stand is cast with a row of  six foliate leaves each of which is pierced and decorated with a deity, perhaps more Garuda figures, with hands clasped in veneration.

Originally such a stand would have stood on an altar and was used to hold a conch shell – either a real shell or a bronze copy of one. In turn these conches held water which was used for religious lustration purposes. Other conches were used as trumpets, again as part of rituals.

This item was acquired by the previous owner from David Jones’ Art Gallery, Sydney, October 1976. David Jones is and was Australia’s leading chain of upmarket department stores. In the 1970s, the central Sydney branch included an antiques gallery through which many Asian items passed. The Cambodian stand here is one of these items, which was purchased from the Gallery on October 6, 1976. We retain the original receipt which will be supplied with the stand.

The stand is in excellent condition for its age. There is one gap to one of the many arches but essentially there are no losses.