Page 215 - Christie's London May 14, 2019 Chinese Works of Art

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A LARGE BRONZE FIGURE OF GUANYIN
MING DYNASTY, 16TH-17TH CENTURY
The bodhisattva is cast with a serene expression
and seated in dhyanasana on a lotus base. The
fgure's right hand is raised in vitarkamudra and
the left hand rests in the lap. The bodhisattva is
wearing ornate jewellery and layered robes with
fnely cast foral borders. The openwork crown has
a seated fgure of Amitabha Buddha to the centre.
39¼ in. (99.6 cm.) high
£25,000-35,000 US$33,000-46,000
€30,000-41,000
PROVENANCE:
From a Private Asian Collection
Guanyin, known as Avalokitesvara in Sanskrit,
is worshipped by both Chinese and Tibetan
Buddhists. Guanyin is held in great reverence and
constantly mentioned in the prayers of devout
Tibetans as the patron deity of the frozen land of
the Tibetan Plateau. As one of the most popular
bodhisattvas in Chinese Buddhism, the worship
of Guanyin has its roots in India and found its
way to China with the advent of Buddhism.
According to Lotus Sutra: The Universal Gates
of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, Guanyin is a
bodhisattva of great mercy, determined to relieve
the sufering caused by the twelve nidanas. Upon
hearing the calls of suferers, Guanyin would
come and rid them of all miseries. As required,
Guanyin can assume thirty-three forms to relieve
sufering.
Compare three large gilt-bronze fgures of
Avalokitesvara seated on lotus bases in the
Chang Foundation, illustrated by J. Spencer,
Buddhist Images in Gilt Metal, Taipei, 1993, nos.
37-9, where all three are dated to the 16th/17th
century.

明十六/十七世紀 銅觀音菩薩坐像

來源: 亞洲私人舊藏

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