The Goddess Uma

Object Details

• Label

  Khmer artists depicted the Hindu goddess Uma with regal stability. Here, she stands facing fully forward, her body neither twisting nor bending. Her long skirt (sampot) creates a strong columnar base. At the same time, her bare chest, pinched waist, and broad hips emphasize her femininity and fertility. Although the artists left upper bodies bare--as was conventional in Khmer dress--they carved intricate designs on the headdress and belt. These patterns, including leaves and flowers, are inspired by nature.

  Uma's heavy breasts, straight brow, diadem terminating in a fluid double bow at the back of the head, and the skirt's wide upper flap, suggest a date of circa 900-925 for the sculpture. In this period the Khmer king Yashovarman I built a pyramidal, mountain-shaped temple called Phnom Bakheng. Relief carvings of similar female figures can still be found on the temple walls. These images also supply important information that is missing in the sculpture--the arms. In the Bakheng reliefs, the goddesses have one arm bent at the elbow, the other extended down at the side with a lotus bud in hand. Uma's arms may have been in a similar position. The small protrusion on the side of Uma's proper left thigh therefore would have served as support for her left wrist.

• Provenance

  ?-at least 1972

  Probably William H. Wolff, Inc., method of acquisition unknown [1]

  From at least 1972-1987

  Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987), probably purchased from William H. Wolff, Inc. [2]

  From 1987

  Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, gift of Dr. Arthur M. Sackler [2]

  Notes:

  [1] See the “Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Gift Inventory,” number 72.11.13, copy in object file. This collection number suggests that Sackler acquired the object in 1972.

  Arthur M. Sackler likely purchased from William H. Wolff, Inc., see document written on William H. Wolff letterhead, “Dr. Sackler Selection” (undated), stock number 02/343, where an object is described as “White [s]andstone Khmer UMA 11th [cent.],” copy in object file.

  [2] See note 1.

  [3] Pursuant to the agreement between Dr. Arthur M. Sackler and the Smithsonian Institution, dated July 28, 1982, legal title of the donated objects was transferred to the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery on September 11, 1987.

  Research updated October 17, 2022

• Collection

  Arthur M. Sackler Collection

• Exhibition History

  Power in Southeast Asia (October 14, 2017 to March 13, 2020)

  Sculpture of South Asia and the Himalayas (May 4, 1988 to July 9, 2017)

• Previous custodian or owner

  William H. Wolff, Inc. (1906-1991)

  Dr. Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987)

• Origin

  Cambodia

• Credit Line

  Gift of Arthur M. Sackler

• Type

  Sculpture

• Restrictions and Rights

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  900s, 1000s

• Name

  Sackler, Arthur M., Wolff, William H.

• Place

  Cambodia

• Topic

  Art, Uma, Southeast Asian Art, Stone, Angkor period (802 - 1431)

• Culture

  Southeast Asians, Hindus

• Object Type

  Sculpture