Vishnu Garudasana at The Guimet Museum, Paris

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This exceptionally well-preserved work embodies the god Vishnu majestically riding his traditional mount, Garuda. The four-armed deity confidently grasps his customary attributes, with only two -the conch and discus- remaining today. The crowned head wears an octagonal mitre and a thick moustache accentuates the face. Pierced earlobes enabled precious ornaments to be added. Distinctive ethnic facial features characteristic of Cham works are clearly visible. Wearing a short sampot, the god sits triumphantly on a terrifying creature: the mythical Garuda with a human body and the head of a bird of prey. One knee firmly planted on the ground, this hybrid being clasps its master's legs in its hands. The massive canon and rounded forms of this statue evoke sculptures from Northern Indian provincial workshops. The piece shows clear signs of later polychromy -a reminder that many such images were once painted- and likely originates from the Marble Mountains, in the Ngu Hanh So'n district in Da Lang province. Champa styles are often named after specific sites or buildings, notably My So'n, the most iconic. This work can be classified as a continuation of the E1 style (c. 650-730), the oldest recorded at My So'n, the sacred city of the Champa. This object is part of "Scan The World". Scan the World is a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory, through which we are creating a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from around the globe for public access. Scan the World is an open-source community effort; if you have interesting items nearby and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how you can help.