Page 152 - Christies Fine Chinese Works of Art March 2016 New York

PROPERTY OF THE BASS MUSEUM OF ART, SOLD TO
BENEFIT THE ACQUISITIONS FUND

1425
A LARGE CAST AND REPOUSSÉ GILT-
BRONZE FIGURE OF ELEVEN-HEADED
AVALOKITESHVARA

QIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795)

The bodhisattva stands on a double-lotus base
with the principle hands in anjalimudra, and
the multitude of others outstretched around
him. He wears a diaphanous dhoti inlaid
with hardstones, and is adorned with beaded
jewelry. The faces, mostly peaceful, are
arranged in tiers, and are surmounted by the
diminutive head of Amitabha.
34º in. (87 cm.) high

$100,000-150,000

PROVENANCE

Cesa Atrium, Zurich, 29 August 1969.

The present manifestation of eleven-headed
Avalokitesvara was quite popular during the
Qianlong period, and exhibits strong Tibetan
infuence. Buddhism was the state religion of the
Qing dynasty, and the Qianlong Emperor was
a devout practitioner of the faith. Of particular
interest to Qianlong was Tibetan Buddhism, and
perhaps the pinnacle of his Tibetan Buddhist
activities came in 1780, the year in which he
celebrated his 70th birthday, when the Panchen
Lama came to both Jehol and Beijing, and
bestowed upon the Emperor the Mahakala and
Chakrasamvara initiations. The rituals for these
coincided with his birthday and indicated that
Qianlong had formally ‘entered the Buddhist
realm.’ Qianlong’s powerful devotion to Buddhism
was readily carried over into works of art made
during his reign.
清乾隆 鎏金鑄銅錘鍱十一面觀音立像

150