Lot 129
East Asia, China, Ming Dynasty, ca. 1368 to 1644 CE. A gorgeous dark stone carved head of the bodhisattva Guanyin (Avalokiteshvara), "The Lord Who Gazes Down At The World", a figure often portrayed as both male or female who embodies the compassion of all Buddhas. Skillfully carved with a tremendous amount of detail, the face is serene, with downcast eyes, a thin nose, and a small mouth curved into a slight smile. There are no wrinkles or signs of age, yet the face is not youthful, giving it a timeless, ethereal quality. Atop its head, it wears a tall headdress adorned by a lotus flower. Its hair is carved as if straight and flowing and its long ears frame its face. The stone used to carve it is beautiful, with a few bands of opaque white quartz through the black surface. This head would have once adorned a lifesize sculpture. Size: 8" L x 9.4" W x 16" H (20.3 cm x 23.9 cm x 40.6 cm); 24" H (61 cm) on included custom stand.
In Buddhist belief, bodhisattvas are among the most compassionate beings in the universe, devoting themselves to saving the suffering and helping others achieve enlightenment and Buddhahood. Traditionally depicted as less austere than Buddhas with graceful postures and elegant garments, a nod to the riches of the Northwestern Chinese Silk Road, this piece is no exception. Bodhisattvas or Guanyin are associated with compassion and mercy - their long ears significant, because they rescues all human beings by hearing their cries for help and the sounds of suffering.
Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-private Micklautz collection, Hawaii, USA, collected from 1940-1998
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#152577
- Condition: Head is a fragment from a larger sculpture. What remains is in great condition with light wear, notably on one side of the nose and hairline and low on the back of the head, commensurate with age. Light deposits on surface.
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