Khmer Gold

This publication situates Khmer gold artefacts within the broader art-historical development of mainland Southeast Asia, focusing on their formal,

iconographic, and material significance in the visual culture of the Angkorian and pre-Angkorian periods. Gold objects — including jewellery, ritual ornaments, votive offerings, and regalia — are analysed as integral components of temple economies, courtly representation, and religious practice rather than as purely decorative luxury goods.

From an art-historical perspective, the study highlights the interplay between indigenous Khmer aesthetics and transregional influences from South Asia, China, and maritime trade networks. Particular attention is given to stylistic parallels with stone sculpture, architectural ornament, and bronze casting, demonstrating how goldwork participated in a coherent visual system linked to kingship, cosmology, and divine legitimisation.

By combining stylistic analysis, archaeological context, and material studies, the volume contributes to a reassessment of Khmer metalwork as a central medium in the articulation of sacred power and political authority. It also expands the discourse on Southeast Asian art beyond monumental architecture, foregrounding portable luxury objects as key agents in artistic exchange and cultural production.