Page 70 - Bonhams Presencer Buddhist Art Collection Oct. 2 2018

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A COPPER ALLOY FIGURE OF AVALOKITESHVARA
QIANLONG PERIOD (1735-1796)
With inlaid copper to the garment designs.
Himalayan Art Resources item no.61636
14 cm (5 1/2 in.) high

HK$150,000 - 250,000

乾隆時期（1735-1796）觀音菩薩銅像

Elegantly modeled with tall chignon, slim waist, and a stepped lotus base, this
uplifting figure of Avalokiteshvara exemplifies the revived interest in Northeast
Indian Pala sculpture during the Qing Dynasty. Compare a similar bronze sold at
Bonhams, San Francisco, 28 June 2016, lot 8008.

Avalokiteshvara is depicted in a number of different postures, evoking various
qualities. Here, he is modeled with a subtle sense of movement, his torso leans to
the right, while his hips to the left. His left foot rests on his right knee. He slightly
raises and tilts his head with eyes half-closed. This so-called ‘pensive’ posture is
thought to originate with depictions of Siddhartha in Gandharan narrative panels
from c.2nd century. It later spread into East Asia, frequently seen in Chinese stone
and metal images of Avalokiteshvara.

Provenance
Kate Kemper Collection, Germany, 1969-1973

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