Prancing lion (metope?), Horned, born of an Indian tradition, reveals some Javanese influence. In attack position, open mouth with its forepaws half-hand half-paw and tail up, this sculpture, highly stylized, is frequently represented, and was often found. One of the most beautiful examples is the Museum of Cleveland. Its date is not a problem.
The problem has been, by cons is the nature of his breastplate. Jean Boisselier for the lack of fur, as here, due to the incompleteness of the sculpture. To Dr. Stern, on the contrary, it indicates a step in the stylistic evolution that will evolve toward the extreme stylization of times after the tenth century. The plastron would be a "garment". Behind this discussion may seem details, seem to appear two conceptions of the evolution of Cham sculpture from the late tenth and twelfth centuries.

(Bibl.: Guillevic 1981: 59 p. 95; FrisLarrouy 1997: 23, fig 7).

"The Art of Tra Kieu Georges Labit Museum of Toulouse Emmanuel Guillon
Article of "La Lettre de la SACHA" n°2, décembre 1997, page 6.